Portuguese

Interfix

-z-

1. used when an entire word, rather than the word’s stem, is connected to a suffix that begins with a vowel

   jacaré + -z- + -inho → jacarezinho

   coração + -z- + -inho → coraçãozinho

Usage notes

Situations where the whole word, rather than the stem, is suffixed include:

• words ending in a stressed vowel: jacaré → jacarezinho; só → sozinho; baú → bauzinho
• words ending in a nasal vowel or diphthong: coração → coraçãozinho; mãe → mãezona; um → unzão. However, these are often handled differently:
  • especially in more formal words, and especially those containing the suffix -ção, the interfix -n- is used instead, and an etymological stem is used: canção → cancioneiro, mão → manusca
  • especially in words inherited from Old Portuguese, the word is denasalised and the etymological vowel is used: bênção → abençoar
  • rarely, the consonant of the diphthong is lost: mãe → mãinha
• words ending in R or L usually take this interfix, but occasionally the suffix is attached to the word directly: par → parzinho, mel → melzinho but mar → marola, sal → saleiro
• words ending in a diphthong: pau → pauzinho. Sometimes an etymological stem is used: pau → palito
• words ending in a hiatus (usually): incêndio → incendiozinho.
• very rarely, words ending in an unstressed, oral vowel: casa → casazinha