The suffixes -eraand -eroindicate the place where something is put. The
related suffix -derooften indicates where something is done:
llave key llavero key ring
papel paper papelera waste-paper
basket
desembarcar to disembark desembarcadero landing stage
However, -erois also frequently used to designate a person who is in charge
of, owns, makes or trades whatever the base noun denotes:
pescado fish pescadero fishmonger
rancho ranch ranchero rancher
In some cases the suffix -íacan be further added to indicate the place where
these activities take place, e.g. fruta‘fruit’ > frutero ‘fruit seller’ >frutería
‘fruit shop’.
Suffixes forming adjectives
The forms -osoand -udocreate adjectives which express the possession of
whatever the base noun denotes, sometimes in the latter case to an exag-
gerated or excessive degree:
cariño affection cariñoso affectionate
pelo hair peludo hairy/shaggy
talento talent talentoso talented
barriga belly/paunch barrigudo pot-bellied
The suffix -(d)izo forms adjectives which express the idea that someone or
something is susceptible or likely to act in the manner indicated by the base
verb or adjective:
pegar to stick pegadizo sticky/catchy (of a tune)
enfermo ill enfermizo sickly
escurrirse to slip/slide escurridizo slippery
Action suffixes
The suffixes -mentoand -mientoare applied to verbs to form nouns
denoting an action:
29.1.4
29.1.3
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1011
1
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20111
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30111
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40
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Suffixes
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