Portuguese Diminutives: Making Things Cute (-inho/-inha)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Add -inho (masculine) or -inha (feminine) to the end of a noun to make it smaller or express affection.
- Remove the final vowel (if present) and add -inho/a: 'casa' becomes 'casinha'.
- If the word ends in a consonant, add -zinho/a: 'papel' becomes 'papelzinho'.
- Match the gender of the original noun: 'o carro' -> 'o carrinho', 'a mesa' -> 'a mesinha'.
Overview
Diminutive Formation Rules
| Ending | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Vowel (a, e, o)
|
Drop vowel + -inho/a
|
casa -> casinha
|
|
Consonant
|
Add -zinho/a
|
papel -> papelzinho
|
|
-ão
|
Add -zinho/a
|
coração -> coraçõezinhos
|
Meanings
The diminutive suffix is used to indicate small size, affection, or to soften the tone of a request.
Physical size
Describing something literally small.
“O gato é um gatinho.”
“Comprei uma casinha para o cachorro.”
Affection
Expressing love or endearment toward a person or object.
“Oi, meu amorzinho!”
“Que bonitinho esse presente.”
Softening/Politeness
Making a request or statement sound less abrupt or more polite.
“Só um minutinho, por favor.”
“Queria uma aguinha.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Noun + -inho/a
|
O gatinho é fofo.
|
|
Negative
|
Não é + Noun + -inho/a
|
Não é um gatinho.
|
|
Question
|
É um + Noun + -inho/a?
|
É um gatinho?
|
|
Consonant
|
Noun + -zinho/a
|
O papelzinho está aqui.
|
|
Plural
|
Noun + -zinhos/as
|
Os gatinhos são fofos.
|
Formality Spectrum
Um café, por favor. (Ordering in a cafe)
Um cafezinho, por favor. (Ordering in a cafe)
Me dá um cafezinho! (Ordering in a cafe)
Bora um cafezinho? (Ordering in a cafe)
Diminutive Functions
Size
- casinha small house
Affection
- amorzinho sweetheart
Politeness
- minutinho a quick minute
Examples by Level
O gatinho é pequeno.
The little cat is small.
Quero um cafezinho.
I want a little coffee.
Só um minutinho, por favor.
Just a little minute, please.
Que presentinho adorável!
What an adorable little gift!
Ela deu um sorrisinho tímido.
She gave a shy little smile.
O projeto é apenas um rascunhozinho.
The project is just a little draft.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up -inho (small) and -ão (big).
Common Mistakes
o casinha
a casinha
gatoinho
gatinho
papelinho
papelzinho
casazinha
casinha
o amorzinho
o amorzinho
coraçãonho
coraçõezinhos
mesa-inha
mesinha
o problemazinho
o probleminha
o cafézinho
o cafezinho
o livrinho
o livrinho
o carro-inho
o carrinho
o grande-inho
o grandinho
o hotelinho
o hotelzinho
o pãozinho
o pãozinho
Sentence Patterns
Eu quero um ___.
Real World Usage
Um sanduichinho, por favor.
Don't overdo it
Smart Tips
Use -inho to sound polite.
Pronunciation
Nasalization
The 'inho' suffix is nasalized in Brazilian Portuguese.
Softening
↗️ Um cafezinho?
Polite request
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'inho' as a tiny 'in' (in-side) a small box.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant house shrinking into a tiny 'casinha' in your palm.
Rhyme
For things that are small or to show some love, add -inho or -inha, fit like a glove.
Story
Maria went to the cafe. She asked for a 'cafezinho'. The waiter brought a 'xicarazinha' (little cup). She felt so happy and gave him a 'sorrisinho'.
Word Web
Challenge
Spend 5 minutes today adding -inho to every object you see in your room.
Cultural Notes
Diminutives are used constantly to show friendliness.
From Latin '-inus'.
Conversation Starters
Você quer um cafezinho?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
A ___ é pequena.
Score: /1
Practice Exercises
1 exercisesA ___ é pequena.
Score: /1
FAQ (1)
No, it sounds weird for some words.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
-ito/-ita
Spanish uses -ito while Portuguese uses -inho.
-et/-ette
French is less productive than Portuguese.
-chen
German is strictly neuter.
-chan
Japanese is a suffix for names, not nouns.
Fu'ayl pattern
Arabic is non-concatenative.
小 (xiǎo)
Chinese is a prefix, not a suffix.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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