The Power of Words

The Power of Words

Exploring the impact and influence of language in communication

Vocabulary: diminuitive, linguistics, prefix, root word, suffix
Spanish Kit Materials: Auténtico workbook

The Power of Words

Understanding the history and meaning of words is crucial in language learning. Words are composed of root words, prefixes, and suffixes. Recognizing the root of a word can help expand your vocabulary. For example, knowing the root 'construcción' makes it easier to learn 'construir'. Explore the power of words and build your language skills!

• root word: the base form of a word

• prefix: something that is added in front of a word (examples: re-, un-, mis-)

• suffix: something that is added to the end of the word (examples: -ish, -ly, -less, -y)

The history and meaning of words varies across languages. In linguistics, the scientific study of languages, words are broken down into pieces. The pieces include root words, prefixes, and suffixes. These words are defined as:

Multiple Choice

What is a suffix?

• the base form of a word

• the scientific study of languages

• something that is added to the end of the word

• something that is added in front of a word

The Power of Suffixes

Suffixes are added to the end of words to change their meaning. They can transform a word into a different form or convey a specific quality. For example, the suffix -ish can mean 'somewhat' or 'like', while -er can indicate a person or thing that performs an action. Understanding suffixes helps us comprehend and use words more effectively.

• friend→ friendly→ friendless

• argue→ argument→ arguably

• active→ activity→ actively

• skeptic→ skeptically→ skepticism

Root words can also be adjusted to add emphasis to words. Suffixes are commonly used to change meaning.

Review these words from your vocabulary list:

• necesario (necessary)- las necesidades (necessities)

• el juguete (toy)- jugar (to play)

• la basura (garbage)- el basurero (landfill)

Match

Match the following word pairs that share the same root.

• ayudar= to help

• caminar= to walk

• separar= to separate

• colaborar= to collaborate

• inolvidable= unforgettable

el ayudo= the help

el camino= the path, the route

la separación= the separation

la colaboración= collaboration

olvidar= to forget

• el ayudo= the help

• el camino= the path, the route

• la separación= the separation

• la colaboración= collaboration

• olvidar= to forget

Roots and Vocabulary

Recognizing the root of a word can help expand your vocabulary. Many English words have Latin or Greek roots, and understanding these roots can help you decipher the meaning of unfamiliar words. For example, the root 'bio' means life, so words like 'biology' and 'biography' are related to the study of life. By recognizing roots, you can unlock a whole new world of words!

-ito(a)

• In Spanish, the suffix -ito(a) is a diminutive that adds the meaning 'little' or implies familiarity or affection.

• It can be added to nouns, adjectives, and adverbs.

• Examples:

• ​casa: Mira la casita roja.- "Look at the little red house."

• anciana: ¿Dónde está la ancianita?- "Where is the little old lady?"

• pueblo: Vivo en un pueblito cerca de Pittsburgh.- "I live in a small town near Pittsburgh."

• papel: Ella vio su nombre en el papelito.- "She saw her name on the little paper."

Spanish Suffix -ito(a)

The Spanish suffix -ito(a) implies size or smallness. It is commonly used to indicate a smaller version or a diminutive form of a word. For example, 'perro' means 'dog' and 'perrito' means 'puppy'. So, next time you hear -ito(a), think small!

Multiple Choice

What does the Spanish suffix -ito(a) imply?

• Familiarity or affection

• Emphasis

• Change in meaning

• Size or smallness

The Power of Words

• pajarito: little bird

• mesita: small table

• bajito: short

• amiguito: affectionate reference to a friend

• gordito: chubby

• momentito: little moment

• guapita: cute

• pobrecito: poor thing

• carísimo: really expensive

• jovencísimo: very young

• inferiorcísimo: extremely inferior

• viejísimo: very old

• grandísimo: very big

• buenísimo: very good

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of the word 'pobrecito'?

• little bird

• poor little thing

• very young

• really expensive

Pobrecito

Pobrecito is a Spanish word that means poor thing. It is often used to express sympathy or pity towards someone or something. In Spanish-speaking cultures, it is a common term of endearment used to show compassion and empathy. So next time you hear someone say 'pobrecito', remember that they are expressing their concern and care!

-ísimo(a)

Muy + an adjective can be expressed in another way by adding the correct form of -ísimo to the adjective. The -ísimo ending conveys the idea of "very," "really," "extremely," "super," and "quite."

​Pronunciation Note: The Written Accent

• When words end in a vowel, n, or s, the stress is on the next-to-last syllable.

• When words end in a consonant (except n or s), the stress is on the last syllable.

• Words that do not follow these patterns must have a written accent (called acento ortográfico or tilde). The accent indicates that you should place the stress on this syllable as you pronounce the word.

• ​fresquísmo

• sucísimo

• buenísimo

Match

Match the following sentences to the corresponding images.

• "The forest is quite beautiful!"

• "The project is extremely difficult"

• "The river is very long."

• "The streets are quite inferior."

bella: ¡El bosque es bellísima!

difícil: El proyecto es dificilísmo.

largo: El río es larguísimo.

inferior: Las calles son inferiorísimas.

• bella: ¡El bosque es bellísima!

• difícil: El proyecto es dificilísmo.

• largo: El río es larguísimo.

• inferior: Las calles son inferiorísimas.

• viejísimo (really old)

• grandísimo (really big)

• carísimo (really expensive)

• buenísimo (really good)

If the adjective ends in a vowel, remove that vowel and then attach -ísimo.

fresco: El aire en las montañas es fresquísimo.- "The air in the mountains is extremely fresh."

Adjectives that end in -co or -ca have a spelling change to -qu. The -o or -a ending is dropped before the suffix is added.

Spelling Changes

• jovencísimo

• inferiorcísimo

When adjectives end in -n or -r, add -císimo:

The -ísimo suffix must agree in gender and in number to the noun it is connected to.

• El coche es carísimo.- "The car is extremely expensive."

• Los voluntarios son jovencísimos.- "The volunteers are very young."

• La organización puede construir el edificio rapidísimo.- "The organization can build the building really quickly."

Spelling Changes, cont.

-oso(a)

Spanish adjectives that end in -oso(a) often have English cognates ending in -ous:

• ​famoso- "famous"

• nervioso- "nervous"

• Una chica que estudia mucho es estudiosa.- "A girl who studies a lot is studious."

• Él se pone furioso cuándo le mentimos.- "He becomes furious when we lie to him."

• Ella siempre está dándome regalos. Es generosa.- "She is always giving me gifts. She is generous."

-dor(a)

Words ending in -dor(a) indicate people or things that do different actions. Words ending in -dor(a) are either nouns or adjectives. Look at these verbs and related nouns and adjectives.

• jugar (to play)→ jugador/jugadora (player)

• trabajar (to work)→ trabajador/trabajadora (hardworking)

• ganar (to win)→ ganador/ganadora (winner)

• secar (to dry)→ secador (hair dryer)

• comer (to eat)→ comedor (dining room)

• Un niño que habla mucho es muy hablador.- "A boy who talks a lot is very talkative."

Dropdown

Which word means "little plate"?

Yo pedí jamón, pero sólo me dieron un ​

Select answer

.

Dropdown

​
Which word means "very good"?

Hay que comer el jamón. ¡Es ​​

Select answer

!

Dropdown

Which word means "loser"?

El ​​

Select answer

fue a casa.

Match

Match the following suffixes to their meanings.

• -dor(a)

• -oso(a)

• -ísimo(a)

• -ito(a)

people or things that do actions

relates to the English ending "-ous"

really, very, extremely, quite

little, implies familiarity or affection

• people or things that do actions

• relates to the English ending "-ous"

• really, very, extremely, quite

• little, implies familiarity or affection