Feminine Noun Form (La Formazione del Femminile)

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)