Italian modifying suffixes (diminutives, ...)
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In Italian we can use suffixes to add new meanings to the original word.
These constructions are used in informal contexts only.
We can distinguish between four different classes of altered nouns:
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This kind of modification conveys the idea of smallness.
These constructions are pretty common in baby talk.
Masculin singular | Feminine singular | Masculine plural | Feminine plural |
---|---|---|---|
-ino | -ina | -ini | -ine |
-etto | -etta | -etti | -ette |
-ello | -ella | -elli | -elle |
-icino | -icina | -icini | -icine |
-olino | -olina | -olini | -oline |
-icello | -icella | -icelli | -icelle |
-icciolo | -icciola | -iccioli | -icciole |
-otto | -otta | -otti | -otte |
Vezzeggiativi convey the idea of tenderness, sympathy and also smallness.
This kind of altered nouns is typical for baby talk.
Masculine singular | Feminine singular | Masculine plural | Feminine plural |
---|---|---|---|
-uccio | -uccia | -ucci | -ucce |
-uzzo | -uzza | -uzzi | -uzze |
-olo | -ola | -oli | -ole |
-cino | -cina | -cini | -cine |
-acchiotto | -acchiotta | -acchiotti | -acchiotte |
This kind of nouns conveys a sense of bigness in size.
Masculine singular | Feminine singular | Masculine plural | Feminine plural |
---|---|---|---|
-one | -ona | -oni | -one |
Quella casona mi mette paura.
(That big house makes me afraid.)
Devo studiare questo librone per l'esame!
(I have to study this enormous book for the exam!)
La tua è proprio una manona!
(Yours is a really big hand!)
This kind of suffixes expresses a sense of contempt and dislike.
Masculine singular | Feminine singular | Masculine plural | Feminine plural |
---|---|---|---|
-accio | -accia | -acci | -acce |
-astro | -astra | -astri | -astre |
-ucolo | -ucola | -ucoli | -ucole |
-iciattolo | -iciattola | -iciattoli | -iciattole |
Depending on the context, the suffix -astro can also lose its negative connotation.
Italian | English |
---|---|
Rosso → Rossastro | Red → Reddish |
Blu → Bluastro | Blue → Bluish |
Fratello → Fratellastro | Brother → Step-brother |
Figlio → Figliastro | Son → Step-son |
Modifying suffixes can be combined to mix different meanings, but only in informal contexts.
Italian | English |
---|---|
Casa → Cas - ett - ina | House → Tiny little house |
Gonna → Gonn - ell - ina | Skirt → Tiny little skirt |
Foglio → Fogli - ett - ino | Sheet → Tiny sheet |
A lot of words look like alterates, but they are not.
Italian | English |
---|---|
Cartone → not a big Carta (Paper) | Cardboard |
Tacchino → not a tiny Tacco (High heel) | Turkey |
Collina → not a tiny Collo (Neck) | Hill |
Limone → not a big Limo (Mire) | Lemon |
Other than the meaning, in some cases suffixes can also change the gender of the original word.
Italian | English |
---|---|
La donna → Il donnone | Woman → The big woman |
La febbre → Il febbrone | Fever → Very high fever |
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Buongiorno gente!
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Luisa A.Dear Martin thank you so much ! It's my pleasure taking class with you. And thanks a lot for your suggestion about Us movies ( Just Mercy) or Us books
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She speaks so softly and understandable. Always cooperating with the student. I'd recommend her especially for grammar studies.
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See you soon
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PS. IMPORTANT! Currently, I only work with adults aged 18 and over - so NO courses for children, sorry.
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Hranush is a teacher with a lot of experience in teaching German. She has many materials and is well-structured!
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