Italian Modifying Suffixes


(Diminutives, Augmentatives and Pejoratives)

In Italian nouns and adjectives are often modified by suffixes.

The main modifications are:

superlatives

augmentatives: -one,

Es.: libro (book) librone (big book),

Note that a feminine noun with the "one" suffix becomes masculine

Es.: una donna (a woman), un donnone (a big woman)

diminutives: -ino, -ello, -etto

Es.: gatto (cat) gattino (little cat)

Es.: giovane (young) giovinetto (little young man)

If a word ends in -one we need to insert a "c".

Es.: piccione (pigeon) piccioncino (little pigeon)

terms of endearment: -uccio, uzzo

Es.:  cosa (thing) cosuccia (little thing)

pejoratives -accio, -astro, -onzolo, -iciattolo, -ucolo

Es. : ragazzo (boy), ragazzaccio (bad boy); poeta (poet) poetastro (bad poet), mostro (monster) mostriciattolo (little monster); libro (book), librucolo or libercolo (a book without merit).

In general abstract terms are not modified (virtù, bontà, carità, onestà). Here we ha some exceptions:

vizietto (flaw), amoretto, amorino, (flirtation), passioncella, (fancy),  capriccetto, (caprice) viziaccio (bad habit)

The function of these suffixes is to express a subjective feeling . Such changes may relate to the size , or the qualities attributed to someone or something, a demonstration of sympathy , appreciation , affection or contempt. Although many words can be altered , you must be very careful because some expressions have taken a clear precise connotation . The term " little woman " , for example, besides meaning a small woman is used as a euphemism for slut.

Below we give a list of terms that appear modified but instead are terms with entirely different meaning. This page serves as a warning to the students to use the changes with caution after having precisely ascertained the meaning of a term .

 

ITALIAN ENGLISH ITALIAN ENGLISH

brigante

   bandit

   brigantino

brigantine

canna   

   reed

   cannone

cannon

canto   

   song

   cantone

 corner

canto song cantino E string

cappa   

   cowl

   cappone

capon

ceffo   

   ugly face

   ceffone

slap

ciclo   

   cycle

   ciclone

cyclone

colla   

   glue

   collina

hill

fonda   

   anchorage

   fondina

holster

gallo   

   rooster

   gallone

 gallon

garza   

   gauze

   garzona

helper

getto   

   thrown

   gettone

token

latte   

   milk

   lattina

tin

limo   

   mud

   limone

lemon

maglio   

   maul

   maglione

sweater

mago   

   wizard

   magone

lump in the throat

matto   

   mad

   mattone

brick,

matto   

   mad

mattino morning

mostra   

   show

   mostrina

badge

mulo   

   mule

   mulino

mill

passo   

   step

   passino

strainer

pianto   

   cry

   piantone

sentinel

picco   

   peak

   piccone

pick

pollo   

   chicken

   pollone

sucker

porto   

   port

   portone

main door

roso   

   corroded

   rosone

rosette

scalo   

   port of call

   scalone

grand staircase

scontro   

   clash

   scontrino

ticket

scopo   

   aim

   scopone

Italian card game

solo   

   alone

   solone

Solone ;

tifo   

   typhus

   tifone

 typhoon

timo   

   thyme

   timone

rudder

tombolo   

   lace pillow

   tombolone

tumble ;

torre   

   tower

   torrone

almond nougat ;

vago   

   vague

   vagone

car

vela   

   sail

   velina

carbon copy

vero   

   true

   verone

balcony

viso   

   face

   visone

mink ;