1.5: Suffissi
- Page ID
- 288972
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)When using Italian nouns (including proper names) and adjectives, different suffixes can be added to express various shades of meaning, as shown below.
- To indicate smallness or express affection or endearment:
| Suffisso | Aggettivo/nome | Aggettivo/nome modificato |
|---|---|---|
| -ino, -ina, -ini, -ine | bella (beautiful) | bellina (pretty) |
| -etto, -etta, -etti, -ette | casa (house) | casetta (little house/cottage) |
| -ello, -ella, -elli, -elle | asino (donkey) | asinello (little donkey) |
| -icello, -icella, -icelli, -icelle | vento (wind) | venticello (light wind/breeze) |
| -icino, -icina, -icini, -icine | libro (book) | libricino (small book/booklet) |
| -olino, -olina, -olini, -oline | topo (mouse) | topolino (little mouse) |
| -uccio, -uccia, -ucci, -ucce | Maria (Mary) | Mariuccia (little Mary) |
- To indicate largeness:
| Suffisso | Aggettivo/nome | Aggettivo/nome modificato |
|---|---|---|
| -one,-ona,-oni, -one | bacio (kiss) | bacione (big kiss) |
- To convey the idea of ugliness or poor quality:
| Suffisso | Aggettivo/nome | Aggettivo/nome modificato |
|---|---|---|
| -accio, -accia, -acci, -acce | parola (word) | parolaccia (bad word/curse word) |
| -astro, -astra, -astri, -astre | poeta (poet) | poetastro (bad poet) |
| -iciattolo, -iciattola, -iciattoli, -iciattole | fiume (river) | fiumiciattolo (rivulet) |
Remember:
- When a suffix is added, the final vowel of the word is dropped.
- Words that end in –one or –ona add a -c before adding a suffix:
bastone (stick) → bastoncino (small stick) poltrona (armchair) → poltroncina (small armchair)
- Some feminine words become masculine when a suffix is added:
la nebbia (fog) → il nebbione (dense fog) la palla (ball) → il pallone (soccer ball) la porta (door) → il portone (front door) la finestra (window) → il finestrino (window of a vehicle) la stanza (room) → lo stanzino (closet)
- Multiple suffixes can be added:
cassa (case, crate, trunk) → cassetta (case, box) → cassettina (small box) palla (ball) → pallone (soccer ball) → palloncino (baloon) pezzo (piece) → pezzetto (small piece) → pezzettino (a little bit)