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ArchivesRe: Is there a diminutive of Diego?
in reply to a message by Lea M
There are several diminutives: Dieguito (the most usual), Dieguete, Dieguín, Dieguillo, Dieguico... The diminutive suffix used depends on the geographical area.
Lumia
http://onomastica.mailcatala.com
Lumia
http://onomastica.mailcatala.com
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That's true, it depends on the geographical area.
For example Diego is a pretty common name in Italy too (even if it is of spanish origin) and, in italian, you can find diminutives like Dieghino and Dieguccio or augmentatives like Diegone, etc - italian onomastics got a lot of hypocoristic forms.
For example Diego is a pretty common name in Italy too (even if it is of spanish origin) and, in italian, you can find diminutives like Dieghino and Dieguccio or augmentatives like Diegone, etc - italian onomastics got a lot of hypocoristic forms.
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What would it be if you were in Spain?
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It depens on the geographical area, again
Some areas of Spain use preferently the diminutive suffix -ete (Dieguete), other areas use -ín (Dieguín)... The more general and usual suffix is -ito (Dieguito).
But keep in mind that in Spain the use of diminutives is not usual (and people neither are very fond of nicknames) and restricted to children; it is very infrequent to find an adult who goes by a diminutive (with some exceptions that can be more usual: Pepita, Lolita...). This is a huge difference between uses in Spain and in Spanish America.
Some areas of Spain use preferently the diminutive suffix -ete (Dieguete), other areas use -ín (Dieguín)... The more general and usual suffix is -ito (Dieguito).
But keep in mind that in Spain the use of diminutives is not usual (and people neither are very fond of nicknames) and restricted to children; it is very infrequent to find an adult who goes by a diminutive (with some exceptions that can be more usual: Pepita, Lolita...). This is a huge difference between uses in Spain and in Spanish America.
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A little off-topic perhaps, but nevertheless: In the Philippines, where they also use a lot of Spanish given names, they don't seem to have problems with such diminutives. For example, with Google I could find several persons mentioned with the name 'Juanito' seemingly as their normal given name. (A 'Dieguito' was nowhere to be found, however...)
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So how do you pronounce "Dieguito"?
I have trouble with "gu". Is it pronounced like a G, or like in "agua", or like in "Guatemala"?
I have trouble with "gu". Is it pronounced like a G, or like in "agua", or like in "Guatemala"?
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[dje'gito]:
GU in front an E (guerra) or an I (guitarra) sounds just like G+A (gato), G+O (gota) or G+U (gusano).
GÜ+E (desagüe) or GÜ+I (agüita) sound like GUA (agua).
G+E (general) or G+I (gimnasia) sound like J+A (jabón), J+O (joven) or J+U (julio).
Agua and Guatemala have exactly the same sound [gwa].
GU in front an E (guerra) or an I (guitarra) sounds just like G+A (gato), G+O (gota) or G+U (gusano).
GÜ+E (desagüe) or GÜ+I (agüita) sound like GUA (agua).
G+E (general) or G+I (gimnasia) sound like J+A (jabón), J+O (joven) or J+U (julio).
Agua and Guatemala have exactly the same sound [gwa].
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Thank you so much!
:)
:)
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