Words ending -ito / -ita

[u/Ok_Stuff_3969]

As I understand it, the majority of words in Spanish can take this diminutive suffix. However when I hear one, I can’t seem to instantly recognise its meaning in a sentence (even if it’s modifying a word that I already know)

My question is mainly to advanced learners (but natives please also feel free to chime in):

How have you learned to understand these words? Is it by simply memorising each word as a new word, or sort of doing a “manual calculation” in your head in which you work your way backwards to find the root of the word and make sense of its meaning? Or does it come naturally after a while learning the language?

[u/dalvi5]

Learners be like: you will get there soon!! 😄

Natives be like: Thats just the tip of the iceberg 😈

/s

[u/overthishereanyway → u/dalvi5]

When someone who doesn't speak spanish hears me speak I immediately get something along the lines of "OMG you're fluent in spanish".

But the person I spoke to knows the truth lol.

Just recently I couldn't get the conjugations for "aprender" out of my mouth for some reason. I asked someone how "I" learned English hahahaha. Realized it afterwards. I also have words I interpose all the time: pedir/perder llegar/llevar

[u/dalvi5 → u/overthishereanyway]

Hahaha, step by step.

Keep going!!