14. Suffixes that change meanings

There are several categories of suffixes that change/modify nouns’ and adjectives’ meanings in Italian. In linguistic terms, these are referred to as evaluative suffixes.

The use of such suffixes is often very playful and spontaneous in spoken, informal Italian. By convention, the suffixes can be categorized as follows:

• Augmentative (gives words a sense of bigger or grander or excessive)

• Diminutive  (gives words a sense of smaller or cuter or understated)

• Endearment   (gives words a sense of affection or endearment, often interchangeable with diminutive suffixes)

• Pejorative  (gives words a sense of  lesser quality or an insulting nature)

Regardless of the category, the formation is the same: cut off the final vowel of the noun or adjective you are modifying and then add the appropriate (form of the) suffix.