+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Hermano vs hermanito?

 
  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    15
    Rep Power
    203

    Default Hermano vs hermanito?

    Hi.
    I have been using the internet to find some practice lessons to supplement my class Latin America Spanish lessons.
    Have come across some conflicts now and then with words that don't show up in my Spanish-English Merriam-Webster dictionary.
    An example is this sentence:

    Mi hermanito no ______ la calle. (Wants correct form of CRUZAR)

    I understand this to mean: My brother does not cross the street.

    Questions:
    1) Hermanito? ......... my dictionary shows 'brother' as 'hermano'
    2) Lesson says CRUZAS is the correct answer. I don't understand.... I thought CRUZA would be the correct ending for 3rd person singular???
    I realize that cruzas is an irregular verb, but list of irregular verbs in front of this same dictionary does not show 'cruzas' as any of the possible tense forms.

    If this is the issue of 'spanish' Spanish vs 'Latin America' Spanish, then is there any easy way of recognizing when this is whats happening?
    Thx.
    Bob

  2. #2
    Contributing User
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Caracas
    Posts
    157
    Rep Power
    460

    Default

    Questions:
    1) Hermanito? ......... my dictionary shows 'brother' as 'hermano'
    2) Lesson says CRUZAS is the correct answer. I don't understand.... I thought CRUZA would be the correct ending for 3rd person singular???
    I realize that cruzas is an irregular verb, but list of irregular verbs in front of this same dictionary does not show 'cruzas' as any of the possible tense forms.
    Answers:
    1) Hermano is brother. Hermanito is the diminutive, and means little brother, or younger brother.
    2) Cruza is the correct answer.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    15
    Rep Power
    203

    Default

    Thx Hugocar.
    Geez, I dislike finding mistakes by authors when I am learning something new!

  4. #4
    New Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    9
    Rep Power
    200

    Default

    Well, depending on the time, if you are talking in present you will say "Mi hermanito no CRUZA la calle" but if you are talking in past present you will rather say "Mi hermanito no CRUZO la calle". Cruzo with tilde wich I don't have in my keyboard.

    BTW. Nevermind, if your book says CruzaS that's incorrect and you were right, cruzaS is a plural word finished in S and cruzA is a single word. MI hermanitO is single and goes with cruzA with is also single. If anything it would of being "MiS hermanitoS cruzaN la calle", not cruzaS wich is more for "Tu cruzaS la calle". Termination ito and ita are diminutives (hope I'm writing this OK) so when you see words like comidita from comida, abuelita from abuela, abuelito from abuelo, casita from casa.... those are diminutives=smallness of the object named, in Spanish those words are not derogatory ones but endearing.
    Last edited by Tania; 01-24-2008 at 01:55 AM.

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    15
    Rep Power
    203

    Default

    Thanks, Tania, but help me understand the dimunitives better.
    So, for your examples, you are saying 'small meal', 'small grand-mother/grand-father', 'small house', but they don't really mean small, like in a small-bodied grand-father or a little house?
    Also, are they used only on 'o' or 'a' ending words, and can they be used on any of these words?
    Thx.

  6. #6
    Senior Member exxcéntrica's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Spain
    Posts
    1,241
    Rep Power
    1905

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Tania
    Well, depending on the tense, if you are talking in present you will say "Mi hermanito no CRUZA la calle" but if you are talking in past simple you would rather say "Mi hermanito no CRUZó la calle". Cruzó with tilde which I don't have in my keyboard.
    BTW. Nevermind, if your book says CruzaS that's incorrect and you were right, cruzaS is a plural word finished in S and cruzA is a single word.
    This is not correct, sorry.

    Cruzas= second persona singular of the verb cruzar

    MI hermanitO is singular and goes with cruzA with is also singular. If anything it would --"MiS hermanitoS cruzaN la calle", not cruzaS which is more for "Tú cruzaS la calle". Termination ito and ita are diminutives (hope I'm writing this OK) so when you see words like comidita from comida, abuelita from abuela, abuelito from abuelo, casita from casa.... those are diminutives=smallness of the object named, in Spanish those words are not derogatory ones but endearing.
    Same in Spain, but we don't use the diminutive so often as in America.

  7. #7
    Senior Member exxcéntrica's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Spain
    Posts
    1,241
    Rep Power
    1905

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob6831
    Thanks, Tania, but help me understand the dimunitives better.
    So, for your examples, you are saying 'small meal', 'small grand-mother/grand-father', 'small house', but they don't really mean small, like in a small-bodied grand-father or a little house?
    Well, a diminutive is either endearing or used for smaller things.

    casa=casita

    Can mean:

    Tengo una csita en el campo. (I have a small house in the countryside)

    Me voy a mi casita para descansar (I am going home to rest)

    With persons usually endearing:

    Papá=papito

    Mamá= mamita

    Abuela= abuelita

    But it may mean smaller, younger

    Mi hermanita solo tiene 3 meses.
    Also, are they used only on 'o' or 'a' ending words, and can they be used on any of these words?
    Thx.
    Yes, with any word.

    Feminine words end in a, masculine in o.

    la casa, la casita

    el abrigo, el abriguito

    el paquete, el paquetito

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    15
    Rep Power
    203

    Default

    Thx.
    I think I got it.

+ Reply to Thread

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •