In Italian you can form a feminine noun from a masculine noun by:
• Changing its ending
• Adding a suffix
• Doing both
WHEN YOU CHANGE THE ENDING
Masculine given names ending in -o become feminine by changing the ending in —> -a
Examples:
Claudio —> Claudia
Marcello —> Marcella
Giulio —> Giulia
Some exceptions:
Marco —> no feminine form
Davide —> no feminine form
Stefano —> Stefania
Masculine common nouns ending in -e become feminine by changing the ending in —> -a
Examples:
cameriere (waiter) / cameriera (waitress)
padrone (owner) / padrona (female owner)
parrucchiere (hairdresser) / parrucchiera (female hairdresser)
signore (lord / sir) / signora (lady / madam)
Masculine common nouns ending in -tore become feminine by changing the ending in —> -trice
Examples:
lettore (reader) / lettrice (female reader)
attore (actor) / attrice (actress)
pittore (painter) / pittrice (female painter)
genitore (parent) / genitrice (female parent)
Some exceptions:
dottore (doctor) / dottoressa (female doctor)
pastore (shepherd) / pastora (shepherdess)
impostore (impostor) / impostora (female impostor)
tintore (dry-cleaner) / tintora (female dry-cleaner)
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