ODPOWIEDZ! - Italiano

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Amiche - amici. Why extra h?

Salve!

I've recently started learning Italian and noticed that sometimes when forming plural of some words one has to add an extra "h" (e.g. amica - amiche). I guess it's quite logical if you want to preserve pronunciation of a word, but at the same time this doesn't happen with "amico", whose plural is "amici". Is this an exception or a rule with words of different gender? Are there any other examples like in case with "amico/amica"? My Italian vocabulary scope is tiny, so I can't compare, and would be much obliged if you could clear this up for me.

Grazie!

PS: Take a look at these free Italian educational resources: Free module: Resources — Adjectives — Present Tense — Greetings and Introductions

ODPOWIEDZ!

Fernando777 profile picture Fernando777February 2015

Ciao!! First of all, I have to tell you that there's a rule. On the one hand, when the word hasn't got the accent in the previous syllable you can't add an h even thought the sound will change. For example: ANtico - ANtici. On the other hand, if the accent is in the previous syllable you have to add an h to keep the same sound: PARco - PARchi. However, there are some exceptions like amico/amici nemico/nemici greco/greci Don't worry at all about exceptions because there are 4 or 5 i'd say. I hope to be useful, if you haven't totally understood, do not hesitate to ask me!

  • Tiziana1977 profile picture Tiziana1977January 2016
    Meglio allora usare un'altra parola, così può confondere chi non è italianoE sinceramente nemmeno io so cosa sia"antici".Meglio un'altra parola per spiegare il plurale.