Use of Diminutive in Mexican Spanish

The diminutive suffix -ito/ita can be added to many Spanish words. Examples include casita (little house),and hermanito (little brother). The words house and brother are casa and hermano. However, the use of the diminutive tends to be more extensive in Mexican Spanish than in many other Spanish dialects.

Close friends can be called amiguitos (little friends) and shade can be sombrita (little shade). Without the diminutive suffix, they are cerveza and sombra. The words cervecita (little beer) and cafecito (little coffee) can be used instead of cerveza and café. Though the diminutive is also used in Castilian Spanish, it is used less extensively.

The use of the diminutive in Mexican Spanish is not limited to nouns. It can also be used in other cases such as muchito (a lot), ahorita (now) and sabrosito (tasty). Without the diminutive suffix, the words are mucho, ahora and sabroso. 

Oen of the features of Mexican Spanish is the use of the diminutive suffix. It is used far more than in many other dialects. It is not restricted to nouns but can also be used with other grammatical categories such as adjectives and adverbs.