The Spanish diminutive: not just “small” 🇪🇸✨ Many learners think Spanish diminutives (-ito / -ita) only mean “small”. But in real Spanish, they do much more than that. Here are some everyday uses of the diminutive you’ll hear all the time: 1.⁠ ⁠Affection & warmth ❤️ Spanish speakers often use diminutives to sound friendly or caring. abuelita → said with love casita → feels warm and familiar 2.⁠ ⁠Politeness & softening requests 🙏 Diminutives make requests sound less direct and more polite. Un momentito, por favor ¿Puedes ayudarme un segundito? 3.⁠ ⁠Everyday Latin American Spanish 🌎 In many Latin American countries, diminutives are part of daily speech. ahorita → can mean “now”, “soon”… or “later” 😅 rapidito → quickly (but not rushed) ratito → a short, undefined time Why this matters for learners 💡 Understanding diminutives helps you sound more natural, understand native speakers better and catch emotional meaning, not just vocabulary 🗣️💬