-ecilla

Spanish

Etymology

Form of -cilla, rebracketed from words ending in -e.

Suffix

-ecilla f (noun-forming suffix, plural -ecillas)

1. Alternative form of -ecillo; added to feminine nouns to form diminutives

   ‎tienda (“shop”) + ‎-ecilla → ‎tiendecilla (“little shop”)

   ‎red (“net”) + ‎-ecilla → ‎redecilla (“small net; hairnet; reticulum”)

   ‎diosa (“goddess”) + ‎-ecilla → ‎diosecilla (“minor goddess”)

   ‎mano (“hand”) + ‎-ecilla → ‎manecilla (“hand (of a clock); needle (of an instrument); doorknob”)

Usage notes

• If the noun has a final vowel (usually -a), it is dropped before adding -ecilla.
• In most cases, -ecilla is used simply to indicate a small or endeared thing, without changing the basic meaning of the noun; however, in some cases, it is used to effect a greater change in meaning, as shown in the examples above.

Derived terms

Spanish terms suffixed with -ecilla

Related terms

• -cecilla
• -cilla
• -illa

 

See also

• -ita, -cita, -ecita, -cecita

Further reading

• “-ecillo”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014