In Italian some nouns have two different plural forms, each used in specific contexts.
SINGULAR (masculine) |
PLURAL (masculine) (feminine) |
Examples |
braccio / arm |
masc. —> bracci / arms (for things) fem. —> braccia / arms (for people) |
|
calcagno / heels |
masc. —> calcagni / heels (body) fem. —> calcagna / heels (figurative) |
|
cervello / brain |
masc. —> cervelli / brains (minds) (figurative) fem. —> cervella / brains (anatomical part) |
|
corno / horn |
masc. —> corni / horns, cornets (music / hunt) fem. —> corna / horns, antlers (of animals) |
IDIOMS
|
dito / finger |
masc. —> diti / fingers (considered individually) fem. —> dita / fingers (of the hand, as a group) |
|
filo / thread |
masc. —> fili / thread (cord) fem. —> fila / strands / threads |
|
fondamento / foundation |
masc. —> fondamenti / principles (figurative) fem. —> fondamenta / foundations (of buildings / also in figurative contexts) |
|
grido / cry |
masc. —> gridi / cries, hoots (of animals) fem. —> grida / cries ( of persons) |
|
labbro / lip |
masc. —> labbri / lips (edges) (of things) fem. —> labbra / lips (of people) |
|
lenzuolo / sheet |
masc. —> lenzuoli / sheets (in general) fem. —> lenzuola / sheets (a pair of) |
|
membro / member |
masc. —> membri / members (people who belong to a certain organisation) fem. —> membra / limbs (anatomical part) |
|
muro / wall |
masc. —> muri / walls (of a house) fem. —> mura / walls (of a city, stadium, etc.) |
|
urlo / howl |
masc. —> urli / howls (for animals / persons) fem. —> urla / howls (only for persons) |
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