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The Latin language has a robust diminutive-forming system. There are many diminutive suffixes: those in calculus, axilla, fistula, and areola to start. There is often more than one correct way to form a diminutive, and many more incorrect ones.[1]
Gender
editThe masculine, feminine, and neuter diminutives often end in -us, -a, and -um.
- later, -is (m.) > later-cul-us (m.)
- mulier, -is (f.) > mulier-cul-a (f.)
- tūber, -is (n.) > tūber-cul-um (n.)
There are exceptions. These masculine words end in -a:
- scurr-a (m.) > scurr-ul-a (m.)
- vern-a (m.) > vern-ul-a (m.)
Many have a vowel, followed by one or two ls, followed by the endings just mentioned. Here we see stem + 'ul' + ending.
Example | ||
---|---|---|
Nomative | diminutive alterius generis |
diminutive eiusdem generis |
ac-us (f.) | aculeus (m.) | |
calx, calc-is (f.) | calc-ulus (m.) | |
can-is, -is (m./f.) | can-īcula (f.) | |
catēn-a (f.) | catēl-lus (m.) | catēl-la (f.) / catēn-ula (f.) |
cicer, -is (n.) | cicer-cula (f.) | |
convent-us, -ūs (m.) | convent-iculum (n.) | |
curr-us, -ūs (m.) | curr-iculum (n.) | |
diē-s (m./f.) | diē-cula (f.) | |
galēr-us (m.) | galēr-iculum (n.) | |
gust-us, -ūs (m.) | gust-ulum (n.) | |
linter, lintr-is (f.) | lintr-iculus (m.) | |
nŭx, nŭc-is (f.) | nŭc-(u)leus (m.) | nŭc-ula (f.) |
pistrīn-um (n.) | pistrīl-la (f.) | |
rān-a (f.) | rān-unculus (m.) | rān-ula (f.) |
statu-a (f.) | stat-unculum (n.) | |
ungu-is, -is (m.) | ung-ula (f.) | ungu-iculus (m.) |
vepr-ēs, -is (m.) | vepr-ēcula (f.) |
The rules can be a bit involved. The diminutive depends on the gender, declination (first, second, etc.) and the root's ending.
First and second declension
editConspectus parvus
editStem termination | Diminutive formation | Examples | Vide : | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Simplex form | Diminutive 1 | diminutive 2 | |||
- | + -ul- | hort-us | hort-ul-us | hic | |
-e- / -i- | + -ol- | calce-us | calce-ol-us | hic | |
-ul- | -ul- > -ell- | ocul-us | ocel-l-us | hic | |
-ul- > -ill- | bacul-um | bacil-l-um | |||
muta + r | -r- > -ell- | umbr-a | umbel-l-a | hic | |
-er- | -er- > -ell- | oper-a | opel-l-a | oper-ul-a | hic |
-ēn- | -ēn- > -ēll- | catēn-a | catēl-l-a | catēn-ul-a | hic |
-ĭn- | -ĭn- > -ell- | pāgĭn-a | pāgel-l-a | pāgĭn-ul-a | hic |
-īn- | -īn- > -īll- | crumīn-a | crumīl-l-a | hic | |
vāgīn-a | vāgīn-ul-a | ||||
-ōn- | -ōn- > -ōll- | corōn-a | corōl-l-a | corōn-ul-a | hic |
-gn- | -gn- > -gill- | pugn-us | pugil-l-us | hic | |
agn-us | agn-ell -us | ||||
-mn- | -mn- > -mell- | column-a | columel-l-a | hic | |
aerumn-a | aerumn-ul-a | ||||
-aul- -āl- -ēl- |
-aul- > -auxill- -āl- > -axill- -ēl- > -exill- |
paul-us | pauxil-l-us | paul-ul-us | hic |
Regula Generalis
editIn general the diminutive of nouns of the first or second declension which end in obstruents or the semivowel /w/ (written <v>) take the suffix -ulus/-ula/-ulum (depending on gramatical gender).
Classis | Regular | Irregular | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutive | principale | deminutive | |
Regula principalis |
vīc-us | vīc-ulus | ||
fīc-us (f.) | fīc-ula | |||
port-a | port-ula | |||
scurr-a (m.) | scurr-ula (m.) | |||
crust-um | crust-ulum | |||
cerv-a | cervula | |||
rīvus | rīvulus |
Stems ending in Vowels
editNouns of the first or second declension whose stems end in a vowel typically take -ola, -olus, or -olum depending on if they are of the feminine, masculine, or neuter gender respectively. Words ending in the glide /w/ (written v), take -ul- like other stems ending in consonants (cf. cerva/cervula).
Classis | Exempla | Excepta | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
Regula principalis |
gladi-us | gladi-olus | ||
besti-a | besti-ola | |||
palli-um | palli-olum | |||
calce-us | calce-olus | |||
āre-a | āre-ola | hirne-a | hirn-ula | |
horre-um | horre-olum |
In the first declanation, -ia can become =illa or =ola. (Lucia → Lucilla, sed Tullia → Tulliola).
Roots with -ul-
editNouns whose stems end in -ul- (either the root itself, or due to the noun in question being a diminutive already), when their diminutive is formed, the stem-final, -ul- changes either to -ell- or -ill-. It is difficult to find any regular correspondence between the context surrounding -ul- and whether the diminutive's stem ends in -ell- or -ill-.
In the table below, those which are diminutives already have the original stem listed under "principle". In cases where the diminutive's meaning is very different from that of the original noun, the noun in question is enclosed with parentheses.
Stirpes exeuntes in: |
- (Principale) |
Principale deminutivum primum |
deminutivum deminutivum secundum | |
---|---|---|---|---|
in -ELL- | in -ILL- | |||
-B(UL)- | - | fābul-a | fābell-a | |
- | tābul-a | tābell-a | ||
-C(UL)- | - | ancill-a | ||
- | bacul-um | bacill-um | ||
- | crepitācul-um | crepitācill-um | ||
cōdex | cōdicul-us | cōdicill-us | ||
mollis (adi.) | mollicul-us (adi.) | mollicell-us (adi.) | ||
(pēnis) | pēnicul-us | pēnicill-us | ||
avis | avicul-a | aucell-a | ||
locus | locul-us | locell-us | ||
- | ocul-us | ocell-us | ||
- | pōcul-um | pōcill-um | ||
bucca | buccul-a | buccell-a | ||
porcus | porcul-us | porcell-us | ||
furca | furcul-a | furcill-a | ||
-D(UL)- | haedus | haedul-us | haedill-us | |
-F(UL)- | offa | offul-a | ŏfell-a | |
-G(UL)- | - | angul-us | angell-us | |
- | singul-us (adi.) | singill-atim (adv.) | ||
- | cingul-um | cingill-um | ||
(unguis) | ungul-a | ungell-a | ||
-M(UL)- | mamma | mammul-a | mămill-a | |
-N(UL)- | āgnus) | āgnell-us | ||
(ānus) | ānul-us | ānell-us | ||
-P(UL)- | - | manipul-us | manipell-us | |
pūpus/-a | pūpul-us/-a | pūpill-us/-a | ||
-R(UL)- | murmur | murmurill-um | ||
turtur | turturill-a | |||
-S(UL)- | caps-a | capsul-a | capsell-a | |
pūsus | pŭsill-us | |||
-T(UL)- | aries | arietill-us | ||
- | catul-us/-a | catell-us/-a | ||
cist-a | cistul-a | cistell-a | ||
pūtus | pŭtill-us | |||
- | situl-a | sitell-a |
The double diminutives of words ending in -er, or -in-, are usually formed by adding -ul- to the end of the existing diminutive..
Context | Root | Single Diminutive | Double Diminutive |
---|---|---|---|
-in- | asin-us | asel-lus | asell-ulus |
-er- | culter | cultel-lus | cult-ell-ulus |
-ul- | ocul-us | ocellus | ocellulus |
Roots with -r-
editStirpes exeuntes in: |
Exempla | Regulam generalem secuta | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
cons. + r | libĕr, libr-i | libel-lus | ||
umbr-a | umbel-la | |||
fenestr-a | fenestel-la | fenestr-a | fenestr-ula | |
sacr-um | sacel-lum | |||
-ĕr- | misĕr, misĕr-i (adi.) | misel-lus | misĕr, misĕr-i (adi.) | misĕr-ulus |
tenĕr, tenĕr-i (adi.) | tenel-lus | tenĕr, tenĕr-i (adi.) | tenĕr-ulus | |
puĕr, puĕr-i | puel-lus | puĕr, puĕr-i | puĕr-ulus | |
opĕr-a | opel-la | opĕr-a | opĕr-ula | |
tessĕr-a | tessel-la | tessĕr-a | tessĕr-ula | |
camĕr-a | camel-la | littĕr-a | littĕr-ula | |
patĕr-a | patel-la | |||
-ŏr- | amphŏr-a | ampul-la | ||
-ŭr- | satŭr, satŭr-i (adi.) | satul-lus |
Roots with -n-
editStirpes exeuntes in: |
Exempla | Regulam generalem secuta | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
-ēn- | catēn-a | catēl-la /-lus (m.) | catēn-a | catēn-ula |
cēn-a | cēn-ula | |||
habēn-a | habēn-ula | |||
harēn-a | harēn-ula | |||
vēn-a | vēn-ula | |||
ahēn-um | ahēn-ulum | |||
-ĭn- | asĭn-us/-a | asel-lus/-la | domĭn-us | domĭn-ulus |
gemĭn-us | gemel-lus | |||
fēmĭn-a | fēmel-la | sarcĭn-a | sarcĭn-ula | |
fiscĭn-a | fiscel-la | fuscĭn-a | fuscĭn-ula | |
pāgĭn-a | pāgel-la | pāgĭn-a | pāgĭn-ula | |
lāmĭn-a | lāmel-la | |||
patĭn-a | patel-la | |||
-īn- | bovīn-us (adi.) | bovīl-lus | gallīn-a | gallīn-ula |
catīn-us | catīl-lus | piscīn-a | piscīn-ula | |
lupīn-us | lupīl-lus | spīn-a | spīn-ula | |
crumīn-a | crumīl-la | vāgīn-a | vāgīn-ula | |
salīn-um | salīl-lum | |||
pulvīn-us | pulvīl-lus | |||
pistrīn-um | pistrīl-la (f.) | |||
vīn-um | vīl-lum | |||
-ōn- | corōn-a | corōl-la | corōn-a | corōn-ula |
persōn-a | persōl-la | caupōn-a | caupōn-ula | |
zōn-a | zōn-ula | |||
-gn- | pugn-us | pugil-lus | agn-us | agn-ellus |
sign-um | sigil-lum | |||
tign-um | tigil-lum | |||
-mn- | column-a | columel-la | aerumn-a | aerumn-ula |
lāmn-a | lāmel-la | lāmn-a | lāmn-ula | |
scamn-um | scabel-lum scabil-lum scamil-lus (m.) |
domn-a | domn-ula |
Roots with -xill-
editStirpes exeuntes in: |
Exempla | Excepta | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
-aul- -āl- -ēl- |
paul-us (adi.) | pauxil-lus | paul-us (adi.) | paul-ulus |
pāl-us | paxil-lus | |||
tāl-us | taxil-lus | |||
āl-a | axil-la | āl-a | āl-icula | |
māl-a | maxil-la | |||
vēl-um | vexil-lum |
Exceptions
editdeminutiva exeuntia in: |
Exempla | ||
---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum irregulare |
deminutivum regulare | |
-CUL- | lagoen-a / lagōna | lagun-cula | |
-ĀCUL- | vern-a (m.) | vern-āculus (m. / adi.) | vern-ula (m.) |
-ICUL- | āl-a | āl-icula | axil-la |
bland-us (adi.) | bland-iculus | bland-ulus | |
galēr-us (m.) | galēr-iculum (n.) | ||
montān-us (adi.) | montān-iculus | ||
pann-us | pann-iculus | pann-ulus | |
pugn-a | pugn-icula | ||
thyrs-us | thyrs-iculus | ||
uter-us | utr-iculus | ||
-IOL- | sigill-um | sigill-iolum | |
tympan-um | tympan-iolum | ||
-UNCUL- | av-us | av-unculus | |
lemb-us | lemb-unculus | ||
mendāci-um | mendāci-unculum | ||
petas-us | petas-unculus | ||
rān-a (f.) | rān-unculus (m.) | rān-ula (f.) | |
statu-a (f.) | stat-unculum (n.) | ||
tuguri-um | tuguri-unculum | tuguri-olum | |
-USCUL- | rām-us | rām-usculus | rām-ulus |
-ULEUS | equ-us | ec-uleus | ec-ulus / equolus |
Third declension
editin -es, -is & -e
Nomina exeuntia in: |
Formatio deminutivi |
Exempla | Vide : | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum 1 | deminutivum 2 | |||
-ēs | -ēcul- | vulp-ēs | vulp-ēcul-a | hic | |
-is | -icul- | nāv-is | nāv-icul-a | hic | |
-ĕ | -icul- | rēt-ĕ | rēt-icul-um | hic |
More nouns, third declination
Stirpes exeuntes in: |
Formatio deminutivi |
Exempla | Vide : | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum 1 | deminutivum 2 | |||
-c- / -g- | + -ul- | făx, făc-is | făc-ul-a | hic | |
-t- / -d- | + -ul- | nepōs, nepōt-is | nepōt-ul-us | hic | |
+ -icul- | anăs, anăt-is | anăt-icul-a | |||
-p- / -b- | + -icul- | plēbs, plēb-is | plēb-icul-a | hic | |
-n- | -ōn- > -uncul- | ratio, ratiōn-is | ratiun-cul-a | hic | |
-ĭn- > -uncul- | homo, homĭn-is | homun-cul-us | |||
-r(r)- / -l(l)- | + -cul- | mulier, -is | mulier-cul-a | hic | |
-r- < -s- | + -cul- | mūs, mūr-is | mūs-cul-us | hic | |
rūmor, rūmōris | rūmus-cul-us | ||||
plures cons. | + -icul- | venter, ventr-is | ventr-icul-us | hic |
Nouns in -ēs, -is
editNomina exeuntia in: |
Exempla | Excepta | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
-ēs, -is | vulp-ēs, -is | vulp-ēcula | saepēs, -is | saep-icula |
nūb-ēs, -is | nūb-ēcula | |||
vepr-ēs, -is (m.) | vepr-ēcula (f.) |
Nouns in -is, -is (m./f.) or -ĕ, -is (n.)
editNomina exeuntia in: |
Exempla | Excepta | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
-is, -is (m./f.) -ĕ, -is (n.) |
turr-is, -is | turr-icula | vall-is, -is | vall-ēcula |
nāv-is, -is | nāv-icula | vīt-is, -is | vīt-ēcula (iuxta vīt-icula) | |
ign-is, -is | ign-iculus | corb-is | corb-ula | |
fort-is, -is (adi.) | fort-iculus | virid-is, -is (adi.) | virid-ulus | |
rēt-ĕ, -is (n.) | rēt-iculum | ass-is, -is | ass-ula | |
can-is, -is (m./f.) | can-īcula (f.) | iuven-is, -is | iuven-culus | |
cut-is, -is | cut-īcula | |||
febr-is, -is | febr-īcula |
Roots with -c- & -g-
editStirpes exeuntes in: |
Exempla | Excepta | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
-c- -g- |
făx, făc-is | făc-ula | ||
nŭx, nŭc-is (f.) | nŭc-ula | nŭx, nŭc-is (f.) | nŭc(u)leus (m.) | |
rēx, rēg-is | rēg-ulus | |||
vōx, vōc-is | vōc-ula | |||
audāx, audāc-is (adi.) | audāc-ulus | |||
lanx, lanc-is | lanc-ula | lanx, lanc-is | lanc-icula | |
falx, falc-is | falc-ula | falx, falc-is | falc-icula | |
calx, calc-is (f.) | calc-ulus (m.) |
Roots with -t- and -d-
editStirpes exeuntes in: |
deminutiva in -ul- | deminutiva in -icul- | Formae irregulares | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
-t- -d- |
nepōs, nepōt-is | nepōt-ulus | pyxis, pyxid-is | pyxid-icula | lapis, lapid-is | lapil-lus |
aetās, aetāt-is | aetāt-ula | anăs, anăt-is | anăt-icula | cor, cordis | cor-culum | |
civitās, civitāt-is | civitāt-ula | lucuns, lucunt-is | lucun-culus | |||
mercēs, mercēd-is | mercēd-ula | pēs, pĕd-is | pĕd-iculus | pēs, pĕd-is | pĕd-iolus / pĕt-iolus | |
caput, capit-is | capit-ulum | sors, sort-is | sort-icula | |||
glans, gland-is | gland-ula | puls, pult-is | pult-icula | |||
valens, valent-is (adi.) | valent-ulus | dens, dent-is | dent-iculus | |||
infans, infant-is (adi.) | infant-ulus | lens, lent-is | lent-icula | |||
blandiloquens, ~nt-is (adi.) | blandiloquent-ulus | fons, font-is | font-iculus | |||
adulescens, ~nt-is (adi.) | adulescent-ulus | pons, pont-is | pont-iculus | |||
ariēs, ariĕt-is | ariĕt-illus | pars, part-is | part-icula |
Roots with -p- et -b-
editStirpes exeuntes in: |
Exempla | Excepta | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
-p-? -b- |
plēbs, plēb-is | plēb-icula | (plēbēs, -is) | plēb-ēcula |
scrobs, scrob-is | scrob-iculus | |||
trabs, trab-is | trab-icula | (trabēs, -is) | trab-ēcula |
Roots with -n-
editStirpes exeuntes in: |
Exemplars | Exceptions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
-n- | ratio, ratiōn-is | ratiun-cula | ||
sermo, sermōn-is | sermun-culus | |||
lēno, lēnōn-is | lēnun-culus | lēno, lēnōn-is | lēnul-lus | |
homo, homĭn-is | homun-culus | homo, homĭn-is | homul-lus / homun-cio, ~ōnis | |
caro, carn-is | carun-cula | |||
pectĕn, pectĭn-is | pectun-culus | flumĕn, flumĭn-is | flum-icellum | |
sanguis, sanguĭn-is | sangun-culus |
Roots with -r(r)- et -l(l)-et -s-
editStirpes exeuntes in: |
Exempla | Excepta | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
-r(r)- | later, later-is | later-culus | later, later-is | later-iculus |
mulier, mulier-is | mulier-cula | fūr, fūr-is | fūr-unculus | |
tūber, tūber-is | tūber-culum | turtŭr, turtŭr-is (m./f.) | turtŭr-illa | |
cicer, cicer-is (n.) | cicer-cula (f.) | murmŭr, murmŭr-is (n.) | murmŭr-illum | |
pauper, pauper-is (adi.) | pauper-culus | iecŭr, iecŏr-is | iecus-culum | |
amātor, amātōr-is | amātor-culus | |||
soror, sorōr-is | soror-cula | |||
vēr, vēr-is | vēr-culum | |||
far, farr-is | far-culum | |||
-l(l)- | mel, mell-is | mel-culum | ||
-s- | vās, vās-is | vās-culum |
Roots with -r- and -s-
editStirpes exeuntes in: |
Exempla | Excepta | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
-r- ex -s- | mās, măr-is (m. subst.) | mās-culus (adi.) | ||
pulvis, pulvĕr-is | pulvis-culus | |||
flōs, flōr-is | flōs-culus | |||
ōs, ōr-is | ōs-culum | |||
mūs, mūr-is | mūs-culus | |||
mūnŭs, mūnĕr-is | mūnus-culum | vetus, vetĕr-is (adi.) | vet-ulus | |
corpŭs, corpŏr-is | corpus-culum | |||
meliŏr, meliōr-is (adi.) | melius-culus | |||
rūmŏr, rūmōr-is | rūmus-culus | |||
arbŏr, arbŏr-is | arbus-cula | |||
'iecur' | iecŭr, iecŏr-is | iecus-culum |
Roots with -u- et -v-
editStirpes exeuntes in: |
Exempla | Excepta | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
-u- | sūs, sŭ-is (m./f.) | sŭ-cula (f.) | ||
-v- | bōs, bŏv-is (m./f.) | bū-cula (f.) |
Stems ending in two or more consonants
editStems ending with: |
Exempla | Excepta | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
two or more consonants |
venter, ventr-is | ventr-iculus | păter, pătr-is | păter-culus |
linter, lintr-is (f.) | lintr-iculus (m.) | māter, mātr-is | māter-cula | |
uter, utr-is | utr-iculus | frāter, frātr-is | frāter-culus / frātel-lus | |
ācer, ācr-is (adi.) | ācr-iculus | |||
os, oss-is | oss-iculum |
Fourth declination
editClassis | Exempla | Excepta | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
Regula generalis |
art-us | art-iculus | lac-us | lac-usculus |
vers-us | vers-iculus | |||
convent-us (m.) | convent-iculum (n.) | gust-us (m.) | gust-ulum (n.) | |
curr-us (m.) | curr-iculum (n.) | |||
an-us (f.) | an-icula | dom-us (f.) | dom-uncula /-uscula | |
man-us (f.) | man-icula | ac-us (f.) | aculeus (m.) | |
corn-u | corn-iculum | |||
gen-u | gen-iculum |
Fifth declination
editIn the fifth declension, Latin nouns generally take -cula.
Classis | Exempla | Excepta | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
principale | deminutivum | principale | deminutivum | |
Regula principalis |
diē-s (m./f.) | diē-cula (f.) | ||
rē-s (f.) | rē-cula (f.) | rē-s (f.) | rēs-cula (f.) | |
spē-s (f.) | spē-cula (f.) | |||
plēbē-s (f.) | plēbē-cula (f.) |
References
editThis article needs additional or more specific categories. (July 2021) |