Message: "-itza diminutive in Spanish names"

[Facts] -itza diminutive in Spanish names

by Ailis

1/9/2010, 4:14 AM

Does anyone know how the diminutive suffix -itza came about in Latin America? I've seen Maritza (María), Danitza (Daniela), Adelitza (Adela), Claritza (Clara), Martitza (Marta), Juanitza (Juana), Carmelitza (Carmela), Celitza (Celia).... I know that in Spanish, -ito and -ita are used to make nicknames. Is -itza a regional pronunciation of -ita? I know that in some Slavic languages, -ica (pronounced eetsa), is a diminutive suffix, like Marica. Does -itza have anything to do with this?

#nicknames #Spanish

This message was edited 1/9/2010, 6:00 AM

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- christo (guest)

1/11/2010, 12:35 AM

The Slavic diminutive suffix -itza is used by Greeks as well.

- Cleveland Kent Evans (clevelandkentevans) +1

1/10/2010, 9:27 PM

I believe that -itza is mostly a use of the Slavic suffix. Maritza seems to have come first, and it's really just a respelling of Marica. However, the suffix may have gotten a boost from its similarity to the sound in certain Native American derived names used in Mexico and Central American such as Itzel.

- Ailis

1/12/2010, 12:44 PM

Thank you :)

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