Learning Italian

Grammar Basics: Nouns, Articles, and Adjectives

Kinds of Nouns by Ronald Glenn Wrigley

Nouns — i nomi — are words we use to describe people, places, things, or ideas. They are one of the most fundamental parts of any language, and Italian is no exception. The most curious thing about Italian nouns is that they have endings that change depending on their gender and number.

Common Nouns

A common noun is a word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, quality, or idea.

Table 3-1

Common Nouns

Italian	English
libro	book
anno	year
amica	(female) friend
penna	pen
compleanno	birthday
letto	bed

Proper Nouns</h2> <p>A proper noun is a word used to name an individual, event, or place.</p> <p><B>Table 3-2</B></p> <p><B>Proper Nouns</B></p> <table width="100%" frame="all"> <h2> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><B>Italian</B></p></td> <td><p><B>English</B></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>Venezia</B></p></td> <td><p>Venice</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>Marco</B></p></td> <td><p>Mark</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>Natale</B></p></td> <td><p>Christmas</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>Capodanno</B></p></td> <td><p>New Year</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>il dottor Savastano</B></p></td> <td><p>Doctor Savastano</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>la professoressa Romeo</B></p></td> <td><p>Professor Romeo</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <title>Masculine Nouns</h2> <p>In Italian, a gender (masculine or feminine) is attributed to each and every noun. As a general rule, all nouns that end in <B>-o</B> are masculine.</p> <p><B>Table 3-3</B></p> <p><B>Masculine Nouns</B></p> <table width="100%" frame="all"> <h2> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><B>Italian</B></p></td> <td><p><B>English</B></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>ufficio</B></p></td> <td><p>office</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>negozio</B></p></td> <td><p>store</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>telefono</B></p></td> <td><p>telephone</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>fratello</B></p></td> <td><p>brother</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>cugino</B></p></td> <td><p>(male) cousin</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>amico</B></p></td> <td><p>(male) friend</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <title>Feminine Nouns</h2> <p>As a general rule, nouns ending in <B>-a</B> are feminine.</p> <p><B>Table 3-4</B></p> <p><B>Feminine Nouns</B></p> <table width="100%" frame="all"> <h2> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><B>Italian</B></p></td> <td><p><B>English</B></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>amica</B></p></td> <td><p>(female) friend</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>sorella</B></p></td> <td><p>sister</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>casa</B></p></td> <td><p>house</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>macchina</B></p></td> <td><p>car</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>cstrada</B></p></td> <td><p>street</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>chiesa</B></p></td> <td><p>church</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <title>Exercise 3-1</h2> <p>Say each noun aloud to practice your pronunciation. Pay close attention to the final vowel sound. Write the noun's gender in the blank provided.</p> <ul> <li><p><B>casa</B> ________________________________</p></li> <li><p><B>libro</B> ________________________________</p></li> <li><p><B>bottiglia</B> _____________________________</p></li> <li><p><B>macchina</B> ____________________________</p></li> <li><p><B>figlio</B> ________________________________</p></li> </ul> <h2>Nouns Ending in -e</h2> <p>You may have noticed that there are many nouns that end in <B>-e</B> in their singular form, not<B>-o</B> or <B>-a</B>. Nouns that end in <B>-e</B> can be either masculine or feminine. There are a few cues to look for in determining the gender of nouns ending in <B>-e</B>.</p> <p><B>Table 3-5</B></p> <p><B>Nouns ending in</B> -<emphasis role="Bolditalic">ORE</emphasis> <B>are masculine</B></p> <table width="100%" frame="all"> <h2> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><B>Italian</B></p></td> <td><p><B>English</B></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>dottore</B></p></td> <td><p>doctor</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>professore</B></p></td> <td><p>professor</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>favore</B></p></td> <td><p>house</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>fiore</B></p></td> <td><p>flower</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>odore</B></p></td> <td><p>odor</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>autore</B></p></td> <td><p>author</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <p><B>Nouns ending in</B> - <emphasis role="Bolditalic">ione</emphasis> <B>are feminine</B></p> <table width="100%" frame="all"> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><B>Italian</B></p></td> <td><p><B>English</B></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>stazione</B></p></td> <td><p>station</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>ragione</B></p></td> <td><p>reason</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>lezione</B></p></td> <td><p>lesson</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>conversazione</B></p></td> <td><p>conversation</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>televisione</B></p></td> <td><p>television</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>situazione</B></p></td> <td><p>situation</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <title>Nouns Ending in a Consonant</h2> <p>Nouns ending in a consonant are masculine. These words are almost always borrowed from another language. Some examples include the following words.</p> <ul> <li><p><B>film</B></p></li> <li><p><B>bar</B></p></li> <li><p><B>sport</B></p></li> <li><p><B>hobby</B></p></li> <li><p><B>tram</B></p></li> <li><p><B>autobus</B></p></li> </ul> <h2>Nouns Ending in an Accented Vowel</h2> <p>There are several common words that end in an accented vowel. Correct pronunciation of these words can be tricky. Make sure to stress the last syllable!</p> <p><B>Table 3-6</B></p> <p><B>Nouns ending in -<B>è</B>, -<emphasis>ù</B>, or <B>-ò</B> are masculine</emphasis></p> <table width="100%" frame="all"> <h2> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><B>Italian</B></p></td> <td><p><B>English</B></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>caffè</B></p></td> <td><p>coffee</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>tassù</B></p></td> <td><p>taxi</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>casinò</B></p></td> <td><p>casino</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <p><B>Nouns ending in -<B>à</B> or -<emphasis>ù</B> are feminine</emphasis></p> <table width="100%" frame="all"> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><B>Italian</B></p></td> <td><p><B>English</B></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>città</B></p></td> <td><p>city</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>gioventù</B></p></td> <td><p>youth</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <title>Exercise 3-2</h2> <p>Say each noun aloud to practice your pronunciation. Pay close attention to the final syllable sound. Is the noun masculine or feminine? Write each noun's gender in the blank provided.</p> <ul> <li><p><B>dottore ____________________________________________</B></p></li> <li><p><B>stazione</B> ____________________________________________</p></li> <li><p><B>film</B> ____________________________________________</p></li> <li><p><B>fiore</B> ____________________________________________</p></li> <li><p><B>religione</B> ____________________________________________</p></li> </ul>  <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/learning-italian/grammar-basics-nouns-articles-and-adjectives/" title="Grammar Basics: Nouns, Articles, and Adjectives">Grammar Basics: Nouns, Articles, and Adjectives</a></li><li class="next"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/learning-italian/grammar-basics-nouns-articles-and-adjectives/plurals-of-nouns.htm" title="Plurals of Nouns">Plurals of Nouns</a> </li></ul></div></div> <div id="coda"> <div id="rel"><div class="n5">Related Articles</div><ul> <li><a 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