diminuto

Diminuto is a Spanish adjective meaning “very small” or “tiny.” It describes size or scope and can apply to physical objects as well as abstract notions. It agrees in gender and number (diminuto, diminuta; diminutos, diminutas). Examples: “un detalle diminuto” or “un insecto diminuto.”

Etymology: The word comes from Latin diminutus, the past participle of diminuere “to diminish.” Through the evolution of Latin into Spanish, diminuto standardized as the adjective meaning “small.” It has close cognates in other Romance languages, such as Italian diminuto and Portuguese diminuto.

Usage and nuance: Diminuto expresses a relatively strong degree of smallness and is often more emphatic than “pequeño” but less extreme than “minúsculo” in some contexts; context matters. It is not a grammatical diminutive suffix itself; instead it functions as a descriptive adjective. In formal writing, it’s common to pair with nouns such as “tamaño diminuto” or “detalle diminuto.” In everyday speech, it can carry affectionate or ironic nuance.

Related terms: Diminutivo, the noun for the diminutive form in Spanish grammar. In cross-linguistic contexts, diminutives are handled similarly in Romance languages, with suffixes like -ito/-ita in Spanish.