Study Resource: Brazilian Portuguese diminutives
This is a reference sheet designed to support our article on Brazilian Portuguese diminutives, which are special forms of words for small or insignificant versions of things.
Basic diminutive endings
| Singular | Diminutive singular | Plural | Diminutive plural |
|---|---|---|---|
animal Translation: animal | animalzinho Translation: little animal | animais Translation: animals | animaizinhos Translation: little animals |
mulher Translation: woman | mulherzinha Translation: little woman | mulheres Translation: women | mulherezinhas Translation: little women |
pão Translation: bread | pãozinho Translation: little bread | pães Translation: breads | pãezinhos Translation: little breads |
Alternative diminutive endings
| Diminutive ending | Example |
|---|---|
-ino/a | pequenino/a Translation: very small |
-im | espadim Translation: small world |
-acho/a | riacho Translation: small river |
-icho/a | canicho Translation: small dog |
-ucho/a | papelucho Translation: small paper |
-ebre | casebre Translation: small house |
-eco/a | jornaleco Translation: small newspaper |
-ico/a | papelico Translation: small paper |
-ela | ruela Translation: small street, alley |
-elho/a | rapazelho Translation: small boy |
-ejo | animalejo Translation: small animal |
-ilho/a | cintilho Translation: small strap |
-ete | livrete Translation: small book |
-eto/a | poemeto Translation: small poem |
Words with more than one diminutive form
| Base Word | Diminutive Forms |
|---|---|
abelha Translation: bee | abelhita, abelhazinha, abelhinha |
animal Translation: animal | animalejo, animalzinho, animálculo |
banho Translation: bath | banhoca, banhinho, banhito, banhozinho |
barraca Translation: tend | barraquim, barraquinha |
barulho Translation: noise | barulhito, barulhinho |
bigode Translation: mustache | bigodinho, bigodito |
boca Translation: mouth | boquita, boquinha |
cabeça Translation: head | cabecinha, cabecita |
caixa Translation: box | caixinha, caixeta, caixote, caixola |
caminhão Translation: truck | caminhãozinho, camioneta, caminhonete |
cão Translation: dog | cãozinho, cãozito, canito, canicho |
casa Translation: house | casebre, casinha, casita |
chapéu Translation: hat | chapelete, chapeuzinho, chapeleta, chapelinho |
chuva Translation: rain | chuvisco, chuvinha, chuvisqueiro |
cócegas Translation: tickles | coceguinhas, cosquinhas |
colher Translation: spoon | colherinha, colherzinha, colherzita |
fazenda Translation: farm | fazendola, fazendinha |
filho Translation: son | filhinho, filhote |
flor Translation: flower | florinha, florículo, florzinha, flósculo |
homem Translation: man | homenzinho, homenzito, homúnculo, hominho |
igreja Translation: church | igrejinha, igrejola |
ilha Translation: island | ilhéu, ilhota, ilhazinha |
índio Translation: indian | indiozinho, indiozito |
jardim Translation: garden | jardinzito, jardinzinho |
livro Translation: book | livrinho, livrozinho, livreto, livreco, livrete |
macaco Translation: monkey | macaquinho, macaquito |
mala Translation: suitcase | malinha, maleta, malote |
moça Translation: young woman | mocinha, moçoila |
mulher Translation: woman | mulherzinha, mulherinha |
nariz Translation: nose | narizinho, narizito |
nó Translation: knot | nódulo, nozinho |
palavra Translation: word | palavrinha, palavrita |
pão Translation: bread | pãozito, pãozinho |
papel Translation: paper | papelzinho, papelucho, papelinho, |
porta Translation: door | portinhola, portinha |
rapaz Translation: young boy | rapazola, rapazote, rapazelho, |
rio Translation: river | riozinho, riozito, ribeiro, |
sala Translation: room | salinha, salita, saleta |
tábua Translation: board | tabuinha, tabuazinha |
vara Translation: stick | vareta, varela, varinha |
velho Translation: old | velhote, velhinho, velhusco |
vila Translation: village | vilela, vileta, vilola, |
voz Translation: voice | vozinha, vozita |
xícara Translation: cup | xicarazinha, xicarinha, xicarazita |
Words ending in ‘-inho’ or ‘-inha’ that are not diminutives
Though the endings -inho or -inha are commonly used for diminutives, some words with these endings are not diminutive in meaning. A few examples are given below.
| -inho | -inha |
|---|---|
vizinho Translation: male neighbor | vizinha Translation: female neighbor |
marinho Translation: navy color | marinha Translation: navy |
espinho Translation: thorn | espinha Translation: pimple, spine |
mesquinho Translation: stingy (m.) | mesquinha Translation: stingy (f.) |
viribeirinho Translation: a person (m.) who lives close to a river | ribeirinha Translation: a person (f.) who lives close to the river |
padrinho Translation: godfather | madrinha Translation: godmother |
sozinho Translation: alone (m.) | sozinha Translation: alone (f.) |
Other Words:
| Other Words:
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