For the new Spanish learners who have just begun to learn Spanish, knowing how to use ‘ito’ and ‘ita’ at the end of words may be confusing sometimes.
This diminutive in the Spanish language is often used to describe something that is small but it also often added to the end of words to indicate something that is “cute” in a show of affection. There are some rules to using this diminutive so in this article we will show you how to use ‘ito’ and “ita’ in Spanish.
1. If the last consonant in the word is “c”, the “c” becomes “qu” before adding “ito” or “ita”
Example: chica – chiquita
2. If the last consonant in the word is “g”, the “g” becomes “gu” before adding “ito” or “ita”
Example: amigo – amiguito
3. If the last consonant in the word is “z”, the “z” becomes “c” before adding “ito” or “ita”
Example: cerveza – cervecita
4. “Ito” or “ita” changes to “cito” or “cita” the word ends in “n”, “r”, or “e”
Example: padre – padrecito
joven – jovencita
5. For words that are two syllables that end in “o” or “a” and the first syllable contains “ie” or “ue”, drop the “o” or “a” at the end and add “ecito” or “ecita”
Example: fiesta – fiestacita
fuego- fuegecito
