‘I’ is not a letter that starts a lot of words in Spanish. Iglesia, sure, izquierda, iniciar, inauguración.. but I can’t think of a ton of Guatemalan expressions that start with the ‘I.’
But when I was thinking of chapínisms, muletinas de Guatemala (slang/local expressions), I kept thinking of ‘ito’s.
You know it because you have probably used it yourself: “Un poquito” and made the gesture representing ‘little.’ I speak a little Spanish. The idea behind the -ito is to reinforce your point. Not only do I speak a little, I really just speak a liiiiiittle Spanish. That’s where poquito comes in instead of sticking with ‘un poco.’
I think of the ‘ito as how US Americans stretch out syllables like laffy-taffy when they want to emphasize something, or what’s more, pause between words to send the message home. “With just a liiiiiittle sugar” or “I…. was….. furious.” The -ito is also used for juniors, Josesito, or to call something precious or cute or even pathetic. Más que nada, I think the ‘ito is meant to express familiarity/closeness with something. IBut, dare I say, the ‘ito in Guatemala has gone too far. Who am I to say? I am a foreigner. So know that I am making judgments about a phrase that I cannot claim, criticism welcome and understood. Nevertheless, I will share my opinion.
All the ‘itos: In my view as an outsider, the ‘ito complicates matters instead of clarifying them. When you’re trying to determine the scope, span or quantity of something, the ‘ito is not helpful. “Solo cuesta 2 quetzalitos.” The quetzal is Guatemalan currency. Does the ‘ito imply a discount? No, it’s exactly the same price. It means “Come on, buy it. It’s just 2 quetzalitos, you won’t go bankrupt over it… Come on…. dos quetzalitos….” How about: regáleme un cafecito, pobrecito, muchachita (that doesn’t mean a lot of ‘chita,’ it is a little muchacha), este callejoncito (small alley), a chucho is a stray dog but a chuchito is a snack, like a maize hot-pocket. (Puppy is cachorro). But espérese un ratito because there is more: heladito, small ice cream, pueblito (isn’t ‘small’ implied in the word pueblo itself?), gatito, small cat, tamalito is not a small tamale, it’s a totally different food. It’s maize baked in a leaf instead of rounded out and baked like tortillas. And three of my favorites: Diosito and Jesusito. You know, deities? I’ve also heard someone say ‘un grandecito’ which means the big little thing. Hmm.
The ‘ito is so integral to culture that it’s not just an extension of the culture, it’s a part of it. That’s why people actually get named Juanita, foods are officially called “chuchito” and cities are officially named Malacatancito.. and that miserable song Despacito.
Two logistical differences to note in measurements of time: ahora and ahorita, en un rato and en un ratito. Rato means “in a bit.” Does ratito then mean “in a little bit?” And you know chico and chica, boy and girl. If you’re calling something small, add ‘ito onto girl or boy and you have: chiquita or chiquito. The first time I heard the word, my training host mom asked: “You don’t think it’s too chiquita?” referring to the size of a table. I had to scarf a chuckle. “As in, the banana?” No, the table is not too banana.
La Señorita: Señorita refers to a young woman, this you know, coming from a Señora. Women’s rights note: The word has become sexualized to imply that a Señorita is a beautiful, available young woman. But Mama is just as sexualized. If you here “Ay Mamita” then someone is expressing interest. How about nena, baby? So at any age, a woman is a sexual object? You can be young or older, Señorita or Mamita or Nena, but it’s a cat-call if it is directed at you. But in school, the unofficial/official title for a female teacher, no matter the age or marital status, is Seño. Might sound confusing to you because you think of feminine ending with “a” not with “o,” yeah? Well, matters get complicated because sometimes people call me “Señita.” That’s right, one syllable less than Señorita. Dude, does that mean “Little Teacher Lady?” What’s the difference between Señita and Señorita and Seño, Miss, Missy and Ma’am, perhaps? Or maybe there’s no sense is looking for cross-cultural linkage because it’s best to understand something in it’s context of origin. What do they call Male teachers, you ask? Profe. Do they call female teachers Profa or Profesora? No. It’s a word but it’s not used in Santa Clara. That’s the equivalent of calling a male teacher Professor Smith and a female teacher Miss Smith. The wading pool of machismo/chauvinism that waters society.
La Clarita. In my extended host family there are four Claras. Abuelita (Abuela is Grandmother and Abuelita is Granny/Grandma) is named Clara, and my host sister, her granddaughter, is named Clara, and there are two more cousins named Clara. One is Clara Rosalia, one is Clara La Colocha, and my host grandmother calls my host sister La Clarita. And I we live in Santa Clara. Thankfully no one calls me Natalita. But Colochita, Little Curly-Headed, that happens.
About time: Ahorita means “next” and Ahora means “now.” It took a long time to figure that out. There is a word for next, próximo, but they’d rather tell you ‘around now:’ ahorita than ‘next.’ So. When someone says: “Ahorita, Natalia” that means you should sit down and wait. Waiting is not a problem in Guatemala, waiting is a reality. Waiting is a problem in my country where we can schedule our lives up to when we use the bathroom, ‘bio breaks’ they called them in the consulting firm. Gross.
I understand that things are totally different in the capital. But in the campo, this has been my experience. At least, ahorita.
