Quick answer
Adding -ик, -ок, -ка, -очка, -енька makes a word smaller, friendlier or both: дом → до́мик, ма́ма → ма́мочка.
What it does to a word
| Word | Diminutive | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| дом | до́мик | a little house |
| ко́фе | ко́феёк | a nice little coffee |
| мину́та | мину́тку | just a moment |
| ма́ма | ма́мочка | mummy |
| хлеб | хле́бушек | affectionate bread — yes, really |
The size is usually irrelevant. What the ending really signals is warmth, informality or politeness.
Names change most of all
Almost every Russian name has a chain of forms: Алекса́ндр → Са́ша → Са́шенька → Сашу́ля, Анна → А́ня → А́нечка. Which one someone uses tells you exactly how close you are.
When not to use them
In an office, with strangers or in writing, the plain form is right. Diminutives from a foreigner can sound odd if they are overused — but understanding them is essential, because Russians use them constantly.
Typical mistakes
Using диминутивы with your boss
plain forms at work
It reads as over-familiar.
Assuming Са́ша is a nickname for a woman only
Са́ша works for Алекса́ндр and Алекса́ндра
Several short forms are unisex.
Check yourself
What does Мину́тку! mean?