frijolito
/fɾixolito/from spelling rules
The English phrase "little bean" is translated into Spanish as frijolito.
frijolito refers to a small bean, but it can also be used as an affectionate nickname for a small child or a person, similar to how one might use "sweetie" or "little one" in English.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of frijol (bean) and the diminutive suffix -ito (little).
How do you pronounce it?
/fɾixolito/
Did you know?
- While frijolito is the standard in Mexico, speakers in Argentina and Uruguay use the word poroto for bean, making a 'little bean' a porotito.
- In Spanish, you can turn almost any noun into an affectionate term simply by adding -ito or -ita, a process that changes the word's emotional weight more than its actual size.
- Adding -ito to a word like frijol can actually make a request sound more polite and less demanding in many Latin American contexts.
Examples in context
- Me comí un frijolito negro.I ate a little black bean.
- Ese frijolito es muy pequeño.That little bean is very small.
- Puse un frijolito en la cuchara.I put a little bean on the spoon.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are preparing a meal together.
- JavierSofía, ¿viste este frijolito en la mesa?Sofía, did you see this little bean on the table?
- SofíaSí, Javier, se cayó de la bolsa.Yes, Javier, it fell out of the bag.
- JavierEs un frijolito muy gracioso.It is a very funny little bean.
- SofíaPonlo en la olla ahora.Put it in the pot now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
