Language/Italian/Grammar/Plural

Hi everyone!

In this lesson, we will teach you how to use the plural in Italian.

General rule

-i

Male names usually form the plural in -i:

• libro->libri,
• quaderno->quaderni,
• cane-> cani

-e

Female names usually want the plural in -e:

• mamma->mamme,
• pizza-> pizze,
• mela-> mele

But there are some exceptions (mano, that is a female name, becomes mani or problema, that is a male name, becomes problemi)

Exceptions

-ca,-ga

Names which end with -ca,-ga form the plural in -che,-ghe:

• banca->banche
• panca->panche

-cia, -gia become -ce,-ge

Names which end in -cia, -gia form the plural in -ce,-ge (if preceded by a consonant):

• spiaggia -> spiagge,
• goccia ->gocce

-cia, -gia become -cie, -gie

Names which end in -cia,-gia form the plural in -cie, -gie (if preceded by a vowel):

• ciliegia->ciliegie,
• camicia->camicie

-cìa,-gìa

Names which end in -cìa,-gìa form the plural in -cìe,-gìe:

• farmacia->farmacie,
• magia->magie

-co,-go

Names which end with -co,-go form the plural in -ci, -gi or in -chi,-ghi:

• amico->amici,
• medico->medici,
• caco->cachi,
• lago->laghi

No change

Some names are written in the same way in both forms:

• papà->papà,
• città->città,
• re-> re,
• crisi->crisi

irregular forms

Some names have irregular plural forms as well:

• bue->buoi,
• uomo->uomini,
• dio->dei,
• tempio->templi