Diminutive is the seventy-seventh skill (assuming read left to right) in the Hebrew language tree. It has three lessons that teach how to form diminutives in the Hebrew language, as well as some words that are derived from diminutives.
Grammar Notes[]
Diminutives are words to show something is smaller, cuter or more pitiable than than their parent word. There are three common ways of creating diminutives in Hebrew:
- Duplicating the final two consonants of the root in words with a 3-consonant root;
- Ex: קטן (small) -> קטנטן (tiny)
- Adding ית- to the word and making its gender feminine;
- Ex: מלון (hotel, masculine) -> מלונית (hostel or motel, feminine)
- Or adding ון- to the word and making its gender masculine.
- Ex: ילד (boy, masculine) -> ילדון (little boy, masculine)
Lessons[]
Lesson 1: Reduplication[]
- כלבלב = puppy (m) (klavlav)
- אדמדם = reddish (adamdam)
- חזרזיר = piglet, little pig (m) (khazarzir)
- קטנטן = tiny, very little (ktantan)
- כחלחל = bluish (k'khalkhal)
- ירקרק = greenish (yerakrak)
- חתלתול = kitten, little cat (m) (khataltul)
Lesson 2:ית-[]
- קשית = drinking straw (f) (kashit)
- מלונית = motel (f) (melonit)
- ידית = handle (f) (yadit)
- שקית = bag (f) (sakit)
- צלוחית = saucer (f) (tslokhit)
- גחלילית = firefly (f) (gakhlilit)
Lesson 3:ון-[]
- ילדון = little boy (m) (yaldon)
- ילדונת = little girl (f) (yaldonet)
- פילון = baby elephant (m) (pilon)
- ספרון = booklet (m) (sifron)
- מגבון = towelette (m) (magvon)
- מחשבון = calculator (m) (makhshevon)
- דובון = teddy bear (m) (dubon)
References[]
Duolingo Lesson: www.duolingo.com/skill/he/Diminutives