Definition
Extremely or unusually small in size; tiny or petite. It can also refer to something that shows or suggests smallness, including grammatical forms that indicate smallness.
Etymology
From Latin 'diminutivus,' from 'diminuere' meaning 'to lessen, diminish' (de- 'down, away' + minuere 'to make small'). In grammar, diminutive forms make words smaller (like '-let' in 'piglet').
Kelly Says
Diminutive contains 'diminish' - something diminutive looks diminished in size! Think of cute suffixes like '-ie' (doggie) or '-let' (booklet) that make things sound smaller and cuter.
Translations
CACatalà
diminutiu
dee-mee-noo-ee
CSČeština
zmenšovací
zme-nsho-vah-see
DADansk
formindskende
fohr-meen-skay-nde
DEDeutsch
Diminutiv
dee-mee-noo-tee
ELΕλληνικά
μειωτικός
mee-oh-tee-kos
ESEspañol
diminutivo
dee-mee-nee-tee-voh
FAفارسی
کاستنده
kah-stah-nde
FISuomi
pienennys
pee-eh-nehn-ys
FRFrançais
diminutif
dee-mee-noo-tee
IDBahasa Indonesia
penyebutan
peh-nyeh-boo-tahn
IGIG
nkọwapụta
n-koh-wah-poo-tah
ITItaliano
diminutivo
dee-mee-nee-tee-voh
KKKK
кішірейту
kee-shee-reh-too
KMKM
ការធ្វើតូច
kaa thvay tooch
MSBahasa Melayu
penyebutan
peh-nyeh-boo-tahn
MYမြန်မာ
တုပ်ကျယ်
toh-kyeh
NLNederlands
verkleinwoord
vair-klayn-vohrt
NONorsk
minutiv
mee-noo-tee
PLPolski
przymiotnik
pshy-mee-oh-tneek
PTPortuguês
diminutivo
dee-mee-nee-tee-voo
RORomână
diminutiv
dee-mee-noo-tee
RUРусский
уменьшительный
oo-myen-shi-tel-nee
SVSvenska
minutiv
mee-noo-tee
SWKiswahili
upunguzaji
oo-poon-goo-zah-jee
THไทย
การลดขนาด
gahn lot khanat
TLTL
pangurliit
pah-ngoo-reh-leet
TRTürkçe
küçültme
koo-chul-tme
UKУкраїнська
зменшувальний
zmen-shoo-vah-ly
VITiếng Việt
sự thu nhỏ
soo thoo noh
YOYO
ń gbẹ̀rẹ̀
n gbeh-reh
ZUZU
ukuncisha
oo-koon-chee-shah
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Diminutive forms (especially in Romance languages) carry gendered and power dynamics. In English, diminutives applied to women ('sweetie,' 'girlie') infantilize and reduce authority, while applied to men they're rarer and less derogatory.
Inclusive Usage
Use as grammatical or size descriptor. Avoid diminutive *nicknames* for colleagues/leaders unless reciprocal and preferred. Be alert to gendered diminution in address forms.
Inclusive Alternatives
["small","reduced","petite"]