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The diminutive '-ito'/'-ita': more than just small

Spanish can add -ito or -ita to a word to make it smaller: gato becomes gatito, casa becomes casita. The suffix also carries feelings. It can sound affectionate, as in abuelito (grandpa). It can soften a request, as in un poquito. It can even make a word sound more exact or immediate, as in ahorita.

English speakers often trip over this because English has no everyday equivalent. We say little or add -y (doggy), but only now and then. Spanish speakers use -ito constantly, and the meaning is often warmth or politeness rather than size. Some diminutives have also become ordinary words with their own meaning, like mesita de noche (nightstand).

Word list
un poquitoA2 a little poco -> poquito, c -> qu, polite softening ahoritaB1 right now ahora -> ahorita, meaning varies by region alita de pollofB1 chicken wing ala -> alita, el ala becomes la alita bolsita de téfB1 teabag bolsa -> bolsita, also saquito de té in Latin America carritomB1 shopping cart carro -> carrito, shopping cart casitafB1 cottage casa -> casita, often cozy gatitomB1 kitten gato -> gatito, female gatita pequeñitomB1 tiny pequeño -> pequeñito, even smaller perritomB1 puppy perro -> perrito, female perrita cubito de hielomB2 ice cube cubo -> cubito, fixed name mesita de nochefB2 nightstand mesa -> mesita, fixed name for the object osito de peluchemB2 teddy bear oso -> osito palomitasfB2 popcorn paloma -> palomitas, fixed name, ¿Compramos palomitas? palomitas de maízfB2 popcorn paloma -> palomita, fixed name, not small doves tiritafB2 band-aid tira -> tirita, fixed name used in Spain caballito de marmC1 sea horse caballo -> caballito, fixed name cerditomC1 piglet cerdo -> cerdito, also chanchito in Latin America chanchitomC1 piglet chancho -> chanchito, Latin American word for cerdito cochecitomC1 stroller coche -> cochecito, takes -cito, stroller not a small car piedritafC1 pebble piedra -> piedrita pollitomC1 chick pollo -> pollito rabanitomC1 radish rábano -> rabanito, common name for the vegetable ramitafC1 twig rama -> ramita conejitomC2 bunny conejo -> conejito, female conejita patitomC2 duckling pato -> patito
How it works

Drop the final vowel and add -ito for masculine words or -ita for feminine ones: perro becomes perrito, and mesa becomes mesita. Words ending in -e or a consonant usually take -cito: coche becomes cochecito. The gender stays the same as the original word.

The suffix works on nouns, adjectives and even adverbs. With an adjective it intensifies: pequeñito is smaller than pequeño. With an adverb it often makes the word more precise or softer.

As a rule of thumb, ask yourself whether the speaker is talking about size, showing feelings, or being polite. Often it is all three at once.

The words
Softening and exactness

Un poquito is gentler than un poco. It is perfect for polite requests. Ahorita means something like right now or in just a moment.

Espera un poquito, por favor.
(Wait just a little, please.)
Ahorita vuelvo.
(I'll be right back.)
Adjectives

Pequeñito means tiny. It usually sounds tender, especially about babies.

El bebé es muy pequeñito.
(The baby is really tiny.)
Baby animals and affection

Spanish rarely has separate words for young animals. It adds -ito instead: gatito, perrito, pollito, patito, conejito, cerdito. These words are also used affectionately for adult pets.

Mira qué gatito tan lindo.
(Look what a cute little cat.)
Mi perrito duerme conmigo.
(My little dog sleeps with me.)
En la granja hay pollitos, patitos y un cerdito.
(On the farm there are chicks, ducklings and a piglet.)
Los niños le dan zanahorias al conejito.
(The children give carrots to the bunny.)
Small things

Casita, ramita and piedrita are simply small versions of house, branch and stone, often with a cozy feel.

Tienen una casita en el campo.
(They have a little cottage in the country.)
El niño recoge piedritas y ramitas en el parque.
(The boy picks up pebbles and twigs in the park.)
Fixed words

Some diminutives are now just the normal name for an object. You must learn them as vocabulary: mesita de noche, cubito de hielo, alita de pollo, bolsita de té, osito de peluche, caballito de mar, cochecito (stroller), carrito (shopping cart) and rabanito (radish).

Dejo el móvil en la mesita de noche.
(I leave my phone on the nightstand.)
¿Quieres unos cubitos de hielo en tu refresco?
(Do you want some ice cubes in your soda?)
Pon una bolsita de té en la taza.
(Put a teabag in the cup.)
El bebé duerme en su cochecito.
(The baby is sleeping in his stroller.)
Watch out
Ahorita changes from country to country

In Mexico it can mean right now, but it often means later, at some unspecified moment. In parts of the Caribbean and Central America it can mean just now, in the past. In Spain people rarely say it. If timing matters, ask.

Spelling changes

Keep the sound of the original word: poco becomes poquito, not pocito. Alita is feminine, even though you say el ala.

Other suffixes

Spanish also has -illo/-illa, which is common in Spain. Platillo (saucer) is an example. In Latin America you will also hear regional words such as chanchito (piglet) and saquito de té (teabag).

The typical mistake

Learners translate every -ito as small. Un cochecito is not a small car, and un momentito is simply a polite moment. Also, avoid adding -ito to everything at formal work meetings, where it can sound childish.

Summary

Add -ito or -ita to show smallness, affection or politeness. Words like un poquito and ahorita soften or sharpen what you say, and baby animals get -ito instead of a new word. Remember that some diminutives, like mesita de noche or cochecito, are simply the everyday name for an object.