Find out what a DESPECTIVE SUFFIX is

In Spanish we find different types of words, these according to their nature will serve to name, to show qualities or actions, etc. In addition to them, we can find prefixes and suffixes that, thanks to their addition to a word can cause its function within the sentence to change or show a tone from the speaker. In this lesson from a TEACHER we are going to focus on what is a derogatory suffix and what examples we can find.

To know what a derogatory suffix is, first of all we must know what suffixes are in Spanish and what types exist. The suffix is ​​nothing more than a particle or affix what is added to the end of a word. The function of this is none other than to modify or alter the meaning of a specific word.

The position that these occupy in the word is also important, since if the affix or particle that modifies the word appears in front of from the root of this, it will be called prefix. In the event that this is placed later from the lexeme or at the end of the word, it will be called a suffix.

Types of suffixes

Within the suffixes we can distinguish different types that will modify the word to make it a different one or to show us the intention of the speaker.

The most common are those that are made up of the particle I know So what are added to a verb. In this way it is indicated that the action is being carried out by someone in the reflexive verbs. Thanks to the fact that this suffix is ​​added to the original word, it becomes a single one with its own meaning. Let's see an example:

Comb

It is an infinitive verb. If we want to convert it into a reflexive verb, we just have to add the particle I know, so we will conform to comb.

On the other hand they are also used for turn an adjective into a noun. These types of suffixes are widely used and can turn the adjective alto into a noun. So we will see that we keep the root Alt and we add -ura. We therefore achieve height, a noun.

Finally we meet the appreciative suffixes. These are used when the sender of the sentence wants to identify qualities that are subjective or objective. Within these appreciative suffixes we can find three subtypes:

• Augmentative suffixes: are those that are used when we want to mark that there is a larger size of something. It is usually used by adding the suffix –ote / -on / -ona. So if we find the word boy we could say big boy. In the case of the word table, if we want to indicate that it is very large, we can say inn.
• Diminutive suffixes: diminutive suffixes are those used to mark affection for a smaller size of an object. They usually settle for –ito / -ita. Although depending on the regions in which it is used, –illo / -illa can also be used. For example, if we want to show that something is small we can say puppy or puppy. In the case of a child, we could say little boy.
• Pejorative suffixes: they are used to mark the issuer's contempt for something. They are also known as derogatory.

We already know what suffixes are and what types exist. As we have seen in the previous section, derogatory suffixes are one of the subtypes that we find within appreciative suffixes.

These will be those affixes that are added to the end of a word to modify its meaning. Adding them to any word will indicate that the sender is showing a vision of an object showing its I manifest contempt for her.

Within the derogatory suffixes we can find several affixes that together with a word will show us that the issuer does not positively appreciate said term. In order to understand it better, we must know that generally these derogatory suffixes are:

• - a lot
• -ato
• -Garlic
• -uco
• -uzo / a

Let's see some examples with the most used suffixes in Spanish to denote that the sender feels contempt for the word he is using. Thus we find:

• Home: with a derogatory suffix becomes hovel.
• Little girl: together with a derogatory suffix it becomes little girl.
• Window: if we add a derogatory suffix we will get window.
• People: in the case of the word people we can talk about riffraff.

As you can see, we find many examples of derogatory suffixes, but not only do these exist, there are also words like old bumble, which comes from old or comic book coming from the word funny.

Here are some examples of what a derogatory suffix is ​​and how it is used to modify the meaning of a word. To continue knowing more about Spanish language Do not hesitate to visit our sections where you will find more interesting articles about everything that interests you.