torrential waterfalls at Iguazu Falls create swirling mist in the valley below

Activities: “Diminutives: What are they and how to form them in Brazilian Portuguese?”

By: Ana Amélia Rodrigues dos Santos
Associated Articles

These activities are part of our Brazilian Portuguese Grammar series. The skills we are practicing here are covered in our article:

Activity 1: Spot the diminutives

Read the text below and select all the words in the diminutive form.

!Um !dia !quero !comprar !uma !casinha !bem !bonitinha !na !montanha. !Lá, !vou !plantar !um !jardinzinho !e !cultivar !verduras !e !frutas. !A !janela !do !meu !quartinho !tem !que !ter !uma !vista !linda, !onde !eu !possa !ver !o !pôr !do !sol !no !finalzinho !do !dia. !Quero !poder !andar !ao !redor !e !ver !os !ninhos !dos !passarinhos!, !sentir !o !cheiro !das !estações !do !ano, !poder !ouvir !o !som !das !águas !do !rio !e, !quem !sabe, !poder !pescar !algumas !sardinhas. !Não !quero !morar !sozinha !lá !não, !mas !poder !levar !toda !a !minha !família !comigo. !Quem !sabe, !um !dia.

Activity 2: Create a diminutive

Complete the sentences below with the words in parentheses in their diminutive form.

  • Tudo bem com você, ? (querido)

  • Maria tem uma na praia? (casa)

  • Compramos uma para a sala? (mesa)

  • Vamos chegar à hoje. (tarde)

  • Só um . Estou quase acabando aqui. (minuto)

  • Joana tem uma suave. (voz)

  • Os noivos deram uma para 500 pessoas. (festa)

  • Não consigo esperar mais nem um . (pouco)

  • Ele fez um . (gol)

  • O jantar está muito . (gostoso)

  • Maria chegou na aula. (rápido)

  • Não quero ouvir sobre o assunto. (nada)

Activity 3: Uses of diminutives

The diminutive can be used to talk about size and quantity, but it can also be used to show other meanings. Look through the examples in Activity 2 and find at least one example in which the diminutive was used to express each of the meanings below. Just type the number(s) of the examples you’ve spotted.

  • Size:

  • Affection:

  • Emphasis:

  • Sarcasm:

To embark on your next language adventure, join Mango on social!

Ready to take the next step?

The Mango Languages learning platform is designed to get you speaking like a local quickly and easily.

Mango app open on multiple devices
Log InSign Up