Nouns: The Plural

In Italian nouns are pluralised by changing the ending of the corresponding singular form as it follows:

1) NOUNS ENDING IN -a

• Masculine singular nouns ending in -a change their ending in —> -i
• Feminine singular nouns ending in -a change their ending in —> -e
• The common gender singular noun ending in -ista, -cida change their ending in —> -i (when masculine), -e (when feminine)

Examples:

(il) tema (theme) —> (i) temi (themes)
(la) rosa (rose) —> (le) rose (roses)
(l’) artista (artist – both masc. and fem.)

—> (gli) artisti (masc.) (artists)
—> (le) artiste (fem.) (artists)

Exception:

(l’) arma (fem.) (weapon) —> (le) armi (weapons)

2) NOUNS ENDING IN -o

• Masculine singular nouns and feminine singular nouns ending in -o change their ending in —> -i

Examples:

(il) tetto (roof) —> (i) tetti (roofs)
(la) mano (hand) —> (le) mani (hands)

Some exceptions:

(l’) uomo (masc.) (man) —> (gli) uomini (men)
(il) tempio (temple) —> (i) templi (temples)
(l’) eco (fem.) (echo) —> (gli) (masc.) echi (echoes) [the singular form is feminine, the plural is masculine]

3) NOUNS ENDING IN -e

• Masculine singular nouns and feminine singular nouns ending in -e change their ending in —> -i

Examples:

(il) sale (sale) —> (i) sali (salts)
(la) chiave (key) —> (le) chiavi (keys)

Exception:

(il) bue (ox) —> (i) buoi (oxen)