Diminutives

Level 4

A diminutive means small, and often cute or loved.

How It Works

WordDiminutiveMeaning
kućakućicalittle house
mačkamačkicakitten, dear cat
cvijetcvijetićlittle flower
stostolićsmall table

Diminutives show size, but also warmth. A grandmother may use sinčić or mačkica with love. Between adults a diminutive can also be playful or a little ironic.

Some diminutives are now ordinary words with a special meaning. Knjižica is a small book, but also a booklet or a pass.

The gender follows the new ending: moja kućica, moj stolić. The suffix can change the last consonant of the stem: knjiga, knjižica.

Do not add a diminutive to every noun. Learn the common ones as you meet them.

Examples (4)

  1. Imamo malu kućicu u Jajcu.

    We have a little house in Jajce.

    Kućica is the diminutive of kuća.

  2. Pored kreveta je mali stolić.

    There is a small table next to the bed.

    Stolić ends in -ić and is masculine.

  3. Emina ima mačkicu.

    Emina has a kitten.

    Mačkicu is the object of ima.

  4. U bašči je prvi cvijetić.

    The first little flower is in the garden.

    Cvijetić names a small flower.

Common Mistakes

  • Making the diminutive of a feminine noun masculine.

    Ovo je moj kućica.
    Ovo je moja kućica.

    Kućica ends in -a and is feminine.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

DiminutivesLevel 4

Learn This First

Diminutives add suffixes.

Words in This Pattern

cvijetstolić-ica-ić