-ecita

Spanish

Etymology

Form of -cita, rebracketed from words ending in -e.

Suffix

-ecita f (noun-forming suffix, plural -ecitas)

1. Alternative form of -ecito; added to feminine nouns to form diminutives

   ‎cruz (“cross”) + ‎-ecita → ‎crucecita (“small cross”)

   ‎fiesta (“party”) + ‎-ecita → ‎fiestecita (“small party”)

   ‎voz (“voice”) + ‎-ecita → ‎vocecita (“small/quiet voice”)

   ‎mano (“hand”) + ‎-ecita → ‎manecita (“small hand”)

Usage notes

• If the noun has a final vowel (usually -a), it is dropped before adding -ecita.
• In most cases, -ecita is used simply to indicate a small or endeared thing, without changing the basic meaning of the noun. Contrast -ecilla, which often changes the underlying meaning.

Derived terms

Spanish terms suffixed with -ecita

Related terms

• -cecita
• -cita
• -ita

 

See also

• -illa, -cilla, -ecilla, -cecilla

Further reading

• “-ecito”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.7, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2023 November 28