Tutti pazzi per Giuseppina, la nonna tifosa dell’Inter

Diminutivi
Diminutives

“Le immagini della nonnina tifosa”
(The images of the granny fan)

“Nonnina” is an Italian word that is a diminutive form of the word “nonna”, which means “grandmother”.

The suffix “-ina” is a diminutive, used to indicate something smaller, more endearing, or more familiar.

Note that the diminutive in Italian not only indicates a smaller size but can also convey a sense of endearment or affection. Therefore, “nonnina” would often be used as a more affectionate term for “nonna”.

In Italian, the diminutive is formed by adding a suffix to the root word. Here are the most common diminutive suffixes:

• “-ino/a”: This is one of the most common diminutive suffixes in Italian. For example, “gatto” (cat) becomes “gattino” (kitten), “ragazzo” (boy) becomes “ragazzino” (little boy), “ragazza” (girl) becomes “ragazzina” (little girl), “paese” (town) becomes “paesino” (little town).

• “-etto/a”: This is another common diminutive suffix. For example, “cena” (dinner) becomes “cenetta” (cute dinner), “birra” (beer) becomes “birretta” (beer in a more colloquial slang).

• “-ello/a”: This suffix is less common but still used. For example, “paese” (town) becomes “paesello” (little town).