Basic Italian rules

1. Nouns and Adjectives

We categorize nouns and adjectives as either masculine and feminine. Typically, nouns ending in -o are masculine, while nouns ending in -a are feminine.

• Feminine: “Donna” (woman)

• Masculine: “Uomo” (man)

If the noun ends in -i that means it’s masculine, but plural and nouns ending in -e are feminine, but plural.

• Masculine: “Bambini” (children)

• Feminine: “Ragazze” (girls)

2. Singular vs. Plural

Knowing how to create singular and plural nouns can be difficult. While there are a few tricks to remembering the rules, it’s really all about memorizing the endings. See examples below.

Nouns ending in singular -o switch to plural -i

• “Amico” is changed to “Amici” (Friend, Friends)

Nouns ending in singular -a switch to plural -e

• “Torta” is changed to “Torte” (Cake, Cakes)

Nouns ending in singular -ca switch to -che

• “Mucca” is changed to “Mucche” (Cow, Cows)

Nouns ending in singular -e switch to -i

• “Professore” is changed to “Professori” (Professor, Professors)

3. Introducing “The” Definite Articles (Singular)

Singular:

There are two main forms of the definite article in the singular, il (masculine) and la (feminine) and two alternate forms. l’ for any noun starting with a vowel, and –lo, for any masculine noun starting with s- plus a consonant, p-s, or -z. See examples below:

Masculine singular

• Example: “Il gatto” (the cat)

Feminine singular

• Example: “La gatta” (the cat)

Masculine noun starting with a vowel

• Example: “L’uomo” (the man)

Feminine noun starting with a vowel

• Example: “L’amica” (the friend)

Masculine noun starting with a -s plus a consonant

• Example: “Lo Zio” (the uncle)

Plural:

Le is used to describe plural feminine

• “Le Ragazze” replaces La or L’.

I is used to describe plural masculine

• “I Ragazzi” replaces il.

Gli is used to describe plural masculine

• “Gli Zii” replaces Lo or L’.

4. Indefinite Articles “A, An” Describing Nouns

Masculine nouns use “Un” before a vowel or consonant.

• Example: “Un libro” (a book)

Masculine nouns use “Uno” before consonant beginning with -s, -z, -gn, -ps etc.

• Example: “Uno specchio” (a mirror)

Feminine nouns use “Una” before consonant.

• Example: “Una donna” (a woman)

Feminine nouns use “Un” before vowel

• Example: “Un’attrice” (a actress)