Although ón and ote are generally augmentative terminations, in the following words and a few more, they are used as diminutives—
Calle (street) Callejón (narrow street, alley)
Carro (cart) Carretón (little cart)
Isla (island) Islote (little barren island)
Torre (tower) Torrejón (turret)
Besides Augmentative and Diminutive terminations, there are some terminations which, without indicating increase or decrease, are used to indicate disparagement pure and simple—
Calducho (bad broth)
Gentualla (mob)
Gentuza (insignificant people)
Libraco (nasty book)
Madrastra (step-mother)
Medicastro (bad doctor)
Mujeruca (old wife, gossip)
Poetastro (bad poet)
The Augmentative and Diminutive terminations (especially the latter) are found added to adjectives and, although more rarely, to other parts of speech also. They must be learnt by practice, however, as they cannot be used indiscriminately.
EXAMPLES—
El picarillo (picaruelo) quiere el otro cuello que es más blanquito: The little rogue wants the other collar which is nice and clean (lit., whiter).
Como me gusta la blanca nieve acabadita de caer: How pretty is the snow just newly fallen.
Mira á aquella chica tan bien vestidita de azul: Look at that little girl so prettily dressed in blue
Vino callandito: He came in as quietly as a mouse.