When to use augmentatives in Spanish?

As we have seen, augmentatives in Spanish are used to express different meanings, depending on the speaker's intention. In informal conversation, augmentatives are not used to indicate that something is big, for example, but to reflect an emotional or evaluative attitude toward an object or person.

Here are some of the most common augmentatives in Spanish:

1. Size

The most common use of augmentatives in Spanish is to indicate that something is physically large. For example:

• Dio un portazo que hizo temblar todo el edificio (He slammed the door so hard that the whole building shook)
• Viven en un casoplón enorme a las afueras de la ciudad (They live in a huge mansion on the outskirts of the city)

2. Intensity

Another way to use augmentatives in Spanish is to indicate intensity or exaggerate something. These suffixes emphasize the noun or adjective. Examples:

• Se dio un golpetazo al tropezar con una piedra (He gave himself a bump when he tripped over a rock)
• Menudo problemón que no puedas venir el viernes a la reunión (What a big problem that you can't come to the meeting on Friday)

3. Admiration

Some words can be modified with augmentatives to show admiration, affection, love, or surprise.

• Te mando un abrazote desde aquí (I'm sending you a big hug from here)
• Tu primo es un pezado de artista (Your cousin is a real artist)

4. Mockery

In other cases, augmentatives are used to give a word an ironic or derogatory nuance. For example:

• Ese grandullón no puede levantar tanto peso (That big guy can't lift that much weight)
• No seas cabezota y deja que te ayude (Don't be stubborn and let me help you)

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If you are just starting to learn Spanish and you can't find some words in the dictionary, it may be because they have a Spanish suffix or prefix that modifies their intensity. These words are called augmentatives or diminutives and are commonly used in colloquial language.

In this article, we explain what Spanish augmentatives are and give you useful examples to help you understand how they are used. At don Quijote, we know that learning a new language is a challenge, so in addition to this article, we recommend that you browse our Spanish courses in Spain and take a look to find the one that best suits your needs.

What are Spanish augmentatives?

Spanish augmentatives are suffixes that are added to a word to express an increase in size, intensity, or importance. They serve to give an idea of grandeur, exaggeration, or anger to the word, depending on the context in which it is used. In addition, augmentatives can modify the meaning of a noun, adjective, or adverb.

For example, to say that a casa (house) is big, we can use the word “casoplón”.

In Spanish, augmentatives not only indicate physical size but can also refer to emotional or expressive nuances. Thus, augmentatives in Spanish can have a positive or negative tone, depending on the context. For example:

• ¡Qué cochazo tienes! (What an amazing car you have!) à Here, the word cochazo refers to a new or very nice car, so it is an augmentative with a positive tone.
• En menudo problemón te has metido (What a big problem you've gotten yourself into) à In contrast, here, the word problemón has a negative meaning because it refers to a huge problem.

Unlike augmentatives, Spanish diminutives indicate smallness, affection, or softness. Thus, both are resources used in Spanish that allow for nuance in conversation without the need to add, for example, more adjectives.

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Spanish augmentatives

Spanish augmentatives. Discover what augmentatives are in Spanish and some useful examples to master this part of the language with don Quijote.

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Calçotada season in Spain

The calçotada season begins in November and lasts until April. Although calçots are grown in various areas of Catalonia, the Valls region remains the epicenter of this tradition. So, if you want to experience an authentic calçotada, don't hesitate to visit this region of Tarragona.

It is in Valls where the Great Calçotada Festival is held at the end of January, with hundreds of people taking part. During this festival, there are competitions, demonstrations, and tastings to pay homage to calçots.

During the calçotada season, it is common to see families and friends gathering in farmhouses and restaurants to enjoy calçotadas. This celebration goes beyond food, as it represents an opportunity to get together and keep alive a tradition that combines history, gastronomy, and lots of flavors.

The calçots recipe

The original calçots recipe involves roasting them and preparing a special sauce, known as romesco sauce or salvitxada sauce. Romesco sauce is made from tomatoes, garlic, almonds, hazelnuts, bread, and dried peppers, with a touch of vinegar and olive oil. This accompaniment has a deep, smoky flavor, ideal for enhancing the sweetness of the roasted calçots.

If you want to prepare a first-class calçotada, you should place the calçots directly on a grill over high heat. The key is to roast them until the outside is slightly burnt (in fact, the outside will be black and almost charred, so don't be alarmed if they look black). Once roasted, wrap them in newspaper to keep them warm and moist until ready to serve.

Another tradition is the way calçots are eaten, which is one of the most enjoyable parts. Take a calçot in one hand, pull off the burnt layer to reveal the white, tender part, and then dip it in romesco sauce before putting it in your mouth. Tilt your head back so you can eat the calçot in one bite. Although it may seem complicated, this way of eating calçots is a fundamental part of the gastronomic experience.

All that's left is for you to try calçots and tell us what you thought of the experience. This tradition has seduced thousands of tourists and visitors who gather to enjoy this experience. Don't miss out and visit Barcelona with don Quijote.

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You've probably heard of the famous calçotadas in Catalonia, but do you know what calçots are or where this tradition comes from? Understanding a country's culture and traditions will help you better understand its language and get more involved in learning it.

So, at don Quijote, we encourage you to sign up for one of our Spanish courses in Barcelona and come and try calçotadas for yourself. But in the meantime, in this article we'll tell you about the origin of calçotadas, the classic recipe, and, of course, what calçots are. Keep reading so you don't miss anything!

What are calçots?

Calçots are a type of spring onion typical of Catalonia, but especially of Tarragona. This onion is one of the star ingredients of Catalan cuisine and, therefore, the centerpiece of one of its most beloved gastronomic traditions: the calçotada.

The main difference between calçots and common onions is that the former are long and thin, softer, and have a sweeter flavor. However, calçots can only be eaten during a limited season: in the winter months and until spring.

Origin of calçots

Calçotadas have captured the interest and attention of thousands of locals and tourists, and with good reason. This tradition dates to the 19th century and is attributed to a farmer named Xat de Benaiges, who lived in Valls, a town in the Tarragona region.

According to tradition, during one of his agricultural experiments, Xat decided to plant onions in an unusual way. Instead of allowing them to grow in the usual way, Xat gradually covered the onions with soil as they grew, forcing the plant to sprout upwards to reach the sunlight.

Thanks to this method of cultivation, known in Catalan as “calçar,” the onion elongates and acquires the characteristic appearance of calçots. Therefore, the name calçots comes from this method of cultivation that Xat de Benaiges implemented on onions.

It is also said that it was Xat de Benaiges who, when tasting calçots roasted on the grill for the first time, noticed their special sweet and slightly smoky flavor. Over time, the tradition became popular among the region's residents and soon spread throughout Catalonia.

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Calçots: origin and recipe

Calçots. Do you know what are calçots? We'll tell you all about this Catalan food. The origin of calçotadas and how to make calçots with romesco sauce.

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Poder

The verb poder is used to indicate ability, possibility, or permission to perform an action. These examples may help you understand it:

• Puedo ayudarte con los deberes de matemáticas esta tarde (I can help you with your math homework this afternoon)
• No puedes salir sin tu chaqueta; hace mucho frío (You can't go out without your jacket; it's very cold)
• ¿Pueden terminar el proyecto antes del viernes? (Can you finish the project before Friday?)
• No pude asistir a la reunión ayer por una cita médica (I couldn't attend the meeting yesterday because of a doctor's appointment)
• ¿Podrías decirme la hora, por favor? (Could you tell me the time, please?)
• Podemos viajar a la playa este fin de semana (We can go to the beach this weekend)

Soler

The verb soler in Spanish is commonly used to express daily customs or habits. Some examples are:

• Suelo levantarme a las 8h todos los días (I usually get up at 8 a.m. every day)
• Mi abuelo suele contar historias de cuando era joven (My grandfather usually tells stories about when he was young)
• Ellos suelen ir al cine los fines de semana (They usually go to the movies on weekends)
• ¿Sueles comer fuera entre diario? (Do you usually eat out during the week?)
• Cuando era niño, solía jugar en el parque con mis amigos (When I was a child, I used to play in the park with my friends)
• Solemos viajar todos los años a la playa en verano (We usually travel to the beach every year in the summer)

Exercises with Spanish modal verbs

Once you have understood what modal verbs in Spanish are and how they work, here are some exercises for you to complete by filling in the gaps with the appropriate verb: poder, deber, querer, saber, soler, or tener que. Good luck! You will find the correct answers to the exercises at the end of the article.

1. Yo no ___ ir al cine esta noche porque ya tenía una cita
2. Tú ___ estudiar más si quieres aprobar el examen
3. Ellos ___ hablar inglés muy bien
4. Nosotros ___ levantarnos temprano los fines de semana
5. María ___ viajar a Francia el próximo verano
6. ¿Vosotros ___ terminar el proyecto antes del próximo mes?
7. Mi hermano ___ tocar la guitarra desde niño
8. Ellos ___ cumplir con las reglas de la empresa
9. ¿Tú ___ ayudarme con esta tarea, por favor?
10. Cuando era niña, yo ___ jugar en el parque todas las tardes
11. Tú ___ pedir permiso antes de salir de clase
12. Nosotros ___ aprender a conducir un coche manual
13. Ellas ___ desayunar siempre a las nueve de la mañana
14. Yo ___ descansar un poco después de la caminata
15. Vosotros ___ entregar los documentos antes de la fecha límite

As you have seen, all these modal verbs in Spanish are essential if you want to construct complex sentences and convey precise ideas. That's why it's necessary to practice and put everything you've learned to the test, so you can improve your language skills in no time. To do so, you can sign up for one of our intensive Spanish courses and experience Spanish culture firsthand in one of the 11 cities in Spain where don Quijote has schools.

We look forward to seeing you! Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Answers: puedo, debes, saben, solemos, quiere, podríais, sabe, deben, puedes, solía, debes, sabemos, suelen, quiero, tenéis que.

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