Augmentative nouns are those that increase the extent of their signification by adding on, ote, or azo, to the masculine nouns, and ona, ota, or aza, to the feminine, suppressing their last letter, should it be a, e, or o; as, a boy, un muchacho; a big boy, un muchachon; a girl, una muchacha; a big girl, una muchachona. The termination azo frequently signifies the blow, or injury caused by the object to which it is added; as, whip, látigo; a very large whip, un latigazo; a stroke with a whip, un latigazo.
Diminutive nouns are formed by adding ito, illo, ico, or uelo for the masculine, and ita, illa, ica, or uela for the feminine, to the noun, which suppresses its last letter if it be a or e; as, a boy, un muchacho; a little boy, un muchachito, un muchachillo, un muchachuelo; a girl, una muchacha; a little girl, una muchachita, una muchachilla, una muchachuela.
N. B.—The terminations, ito, ita, &c., added to christian names, or those that express relationship, indicate love, affection, and regard towards the object; thus, hermanita, dear sister; Juanito, esteemed John, &c.