Diminutives are a part of everyday speech in Portugal, yet I still find them really amusing. I collect them like some people collect fridge magnets — and there’s an endless supply.
A recent example: I went to my local padaria to quickly buy a pastry and left Ice the dog tied to a tree a few metres from the door. He could see me through the glass and sat waiting patiently as I stood in line to pay. A few drops of rain had begun to fall but nothing major, and we were across the street from home.
A big, brawny man entered, joined the short queue, and asked me if that was my dog outside. I said yes.
He looked concerned, then proceeded to tell me, gravely, that my cãozinho was getting caught in the chuvinha…
Speechless, I stared at this big guy, over to Ice who was unfazed by a bit of rain, back to the guy, and nearly burst out laughing.
February 25, 2017
Album: Marco de Canaveses, Portugal
