Learn Spanish with SpanishPod101.com! Today, we have another edition of the Costa Rican Regional Series. Hang out with Natalia and Carlos as they talk about the Costa Rican beaches, blazing sun, and dark tans. We’ll also cover the diminutive as it is used with adjectives. This is a good lesson to learn how to be descriptive when speaking in Costa Rican Spanish. Also, be sure to reference this lesson with Newbie 16, Peruvian 16, and Iberian 16 for additional material.
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 at 6:30 pm and is filed under Regional Spanish Series. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
5 Responses to “Regional Spanish Series #58 - Costa Rican #16 - What a moon!”
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:38 am
Thanks to Kevin Macleod for the music in today’s lesson!
The use of the diminutive is really common in Spanish, especially in Latin America. Not only is it used with nouns such as “perrito” (little dog), but it is also used with adjectives like “chiquitito” (teeny-tiny). Anybody out there have some more examples of adjectives in the diminutive?
June 4th, 2008 at 2:00 am
The diminutive is also widely used with names to express affection. For example, my name is Carlos and growing up I was called Carlito by my grandparents. My cousin Juan became Juanito. Sometimes, use of the diminutive became so common that it stuck into adulthood. At 27, I am still Carlito to my grandparents.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:40 am
I was under the impression that “tico” was used a lot as a diminutive in Costa Rica. Se puede encontrar palabras como “chicica” o “pequeñico” o “carlico” en el español costarricense?
June 5th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Good question Chris…definitely. While “-tico” is a commonly used as a diminutive, it is not the only form used. If you were in Costa Rica and said “chicica” o “pequeñico” o “carlico” you would be understood. Personally, I hear -tico used most with the word, “momento” becoming “momentico”. Other than that…you will most likely hear other versions of the diminutive as well.
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Category: Regional Spanish Series |
Grammar: diminutive | Function: expressing heat | Topic: weather | Politeness Level: informal
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