-ucu

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• IPA^(key): /ˈuku/ [ˈu.ku]

-ucu m sg (adjective-forming suffix, feminine singular -uca, neuter singular -uco, masculine plural -ucos, feminine plural -uques)
-ucu m sg (feminine singular -uca, masculine plural -ucos, feminine plural -uques)

1. forms diminutives of nouns, adjectives, and adverbs, also frequently carries the meaning of "little" in adjectives

   ‎entráu (“aged [someone]”) + ‎-ucu → ‎entraducu (“a little aged [someone]”)

   ‎fartu (“full”) + ‎-ucu → ‎fartucu (“satiated”)

   ‎fierro (“iron”) + ‎-ucu → ‎ferrucu (“slag”)

• Like -ín, it often triggers the closure of other vowels in the word (e, and/or o into i and u, respectively) in pronunciation. According to the Academia de la Llingua Asturian standard orthographical rules, this should not be representing in writing, the words retain their original vowels. However this norm is not often followed in most environments.

1. ‎pequeñu (“small”) + ‎-ucu → ‎piquiñucu (“small”) (non-standard orthography)

• It can be affectionate, like -ín, but unlike -ín, it can also be despective (something worthless).

• -ucar
• -uquín

-ucu

1. Postconsonantal form of -ici after the vowels O / U.

See -ici