Augmentative suffixes
Although augmentative suffixes are not as widely used as diminutives in Spanish, Spaniards have a taste for exaggeration and they often make use of such devices.
According to the Royal Academy of Language, these suffixes “increase the magnitude of the meaning of the term to which it binds."
Augmentatives in our language are formed by adding a suffix at the end of each word (in the same way as diminutives).
They are usually added to the noun (“jarra” – “jarrrón”, i.e. ‘vase’) and more rarely used in an adjective (“guapo” – “guapetón”, i.e. ‘handsome’)
The variation of meaning added by the suffix does not always have to do with an increase in size, and it sometimes names a new concept. Thus, a "sillón" (‘armchair’) is not exactly a big chair. "Cabezón" and "cabezota" can both refer to a big head or a stubborn person, but we probably prefer the former for "big head" and the latter to describe a character trait. "Colchón" (‘mattress’) has little to do with "colcha” (a kind of quilt). "Culebrón" (‘soap opera’) does not have much to do with “culebra” (‘snake’). A “ratón” (‘mouse’) is not a big “rata” (‘rat’), but rather the opposite.
Augmentative suffixes may take different forms:
1. the suffix “-ion” is the most recognized and used among speakers. Sometimes it simply intends to reflect the greater size or importance of an object: “viento” (‘wind’) – “ventarrón” (‘very strong wind’). At other times it takes pejorative connotations, as in “barrigón” (‘pot-bellied’), “narigón” (‘big nosed’ ...)
2. "-Ote" :is another common form of augmentative suffix: “macho” (‘male’) – “machote”.
3. "–Azo" "-aza", "-tazo", "-taza". These suffixes are routinely used in many nouns to mark their size or importance. There are several examples like: “golpe”(‘blow’)-“golpazo” (‘wallop’); “barca” (‘boat’) - “barcaza”; (‘barge’) “harto” (‘fed up’) -“hartazo”…
In many cases the connotation is pejorative (and their forms are always plural), like “calzonazos” (man too condescending), “manazas” (very clumsy person) ...
A very frequent use of such suffixes is meant to describe actions produced by the objects mentioned. An “escobazo” is a kind of blow involving a broom (“escoba”); we can use other weapons, such as ‘heels’ (“taconazo”), ‘hands’ (“manotazo”), ‘fists’ (“puñetazo”), ‘gloves’ (“guantazo”), ‘penknives’ (“navajazo”)…
There are other less productive suffixes, such as "-acho" / "- acha" (“ricacho” – ‘filthy rich’), " - rron "/"-rrona"(“nubarrón” – ‘nasty cloud’), "-icon "/" – icon” (“bobalicón” – ‘goofy’) , "-etón "/"-etona " (“guapetón” - handsome), "-ton” / "- tona" (“bigotón” – ‘big-moustached) (Wikipedia)
Many of them are used in a pejorative or derogatory way, like “solterona” (‘spinster’, ‘old maid’) “padrastro” (‘stepfather’), “latinajo” (‘dog Latin’), “gentuza” (‘rabble’, ‘riff-raff’), “animalejo” (‘wretched animal or beast’), “casuca” (‘wretched little house’ or ‘hovel’), “larguirucho” (‘lanky’), “bicharraco” (‘creepy-crawly’)…