-inho

See also: inho

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• -im, -in', -in, -zinho

Etymology

From Old Portuguese -ỹo, from Latin -īnus (“of or pertaining to”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈi.ɲu/
• (South Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈi.ɲo/

Suffix

-inho m (feminine -inha, plural -inhos, feminine plural -inhas)

1. replaces -o and -a to form diminutives
   1. forms the diminutive of nouns
      1. indicates smallness, shortness, youth, fewness, etc.

         ‎casa (“house”) + ‎-inha → ‎casinha (“small house”)

         ‎criança (“child”) + ‎-inha → ‎criancinha (“young child”)

         ‎texto (“text”) + ‎-inho → ‎textinho (“short text”)

         ‎pipoca (“popcorn”) + ‎-inha → ‎pipoquinha (“a small portion of popcorn”)

      2. belittles the suffixed noun

         ‎time + ‎-inho → ‎timinho (“sports team”)

         ‎país + ‎-inho → ‎paisinho (“country; nation”)

   2. (somewhat informal) forms the diminutive of adjectives and adverbs, roughly equivalent to English somewhat or kind of

      ‎grande (“big”) + ‎-inho → ‎grandinho (“somewhat big”)

   3. (Brazil, colloquial) forms the diminutive of gerunds, indicating a lack of intensity or seriousness

      ‎chovendo (“raining”) + ‎-inho → ‎chovendinho (“drizzling”)

      ‎namorando (“dating”) + ‎-inho → ‎namorandinho (“having an uncommitted romantic relationship”)

Synonyms

• (indicates smallness): -culo, -ete, -ito, -ulo
• (belittling suffix): -eco, -ilho
• (somewhat; kind of): meio
• (emphasises personal pronouns): mesmo

Antonyms

• (indicates smallness): -ão