I was taking a Language and Culture lesson today. I have taken
other Spanish courses/programs in the past and I have been told
that the word 'camisa' means shirt. Today I come across 'camiseta'
Are they both just as correct to use, do they refer to different
kinds, or would you use them in different instances/situations? If
they're both correct, why in the world do we need two words for
shirt? Of course we have top and shirt in English...
Camisa AND camiseta for 'shirt'?
KelllaurBailar
September 24, 2015

Robert-C7
September 24, 2015
I believe that camisa means shirt and
camiseta meas T-shirt.

Dan-H24
September 25, 2015
I believ that Robert is correct. Similarly, a big semi type truck
is a camión, and a pickup truck is a camioneta. I don't know if
these are actually diminutives, but I love the way the Spanish
language modifies words in this way.

Steven-W15
September 25, 2015
Right on, they are diminutives. There is a module on this in the
Platinum course (19.6).
- hermano / hermanito
- abuela / abuelita
- café / cafecito
- cabeza / cabecita
- ...
I think you also see this in some names as well: Ana / Anita, Juan / Juanito, ...
- hermano / hermanito
- abuela / abuelita
- café / cafecito
- cabeza / cabecita
- ...
I think you also see this in some names as well: Ana / Anita, Juan / Juanito, ...

Dan-H24
September 25, 2015
I love how diminutives are applied to names in Spanish. The woman I
Skype with in Spain told me her mother calls her "Adelita" though
her given name is Adela. Last winter while in Cuba I visited the
family of my friend Manuel who lives here in Roanoke. They told me
they call him "Manuelito."
KelllaurBailar
September 25, 2015
That's a perfect explanation! Thanks for the help, everyone:).