Suffissi
When using Italian nouns (including proper names) and adjectives, different suffixes can be added to express various shades of meaning, as shown below.
- To indicate smallness or express affection or endearment:
| Suffisso | Aggettivo/nome | Aggettivo/nome modificato |
|---|---|---|
| -ino, -ina, -ini, -ine | bella (beautiful) | bellina (pretty) |
| -etto, -etta, -etti, -ette | casa (house) | casetta (little house/cottage) |
| -ello, -ella, -elli, -elle | asino (donkey) | asinello (little donkey) |
| -icello, -icella, -icelli, -icelle | vento (wind) | venticello (light wind/breeze) |
| -icino, -icina, -icini, -icine | libro (book) | libricino (small book/booklet) |
| -olino, -olina, -olini, -oline | topo (mouse) | topolino (little mouse) |
| -uccio, -uccia, -ucci, -ucce | Maria (Mary) | Mariuccia (little Mary) |
- To indicate largeness:
| Suffisso | Aggettivo/nome | Aggettivo/nome modificato |
|---|---|---|
| -one,-ona,-oni, -one | bacio (kiss) | bacione (big kiss) |
- To convey the idea of ugliness or poor quality:
| Suffisso | Aggettivo/nome | Aggettivo/nome modificato |
|---|---|---|
| -accio, -accia, -acci, -acce | parola (word) | parolaccia (bad word/curse word) |
| -astro, -astra, -astri, -astre | poeta (poet) | poetastro (bad poet) |
| -iciattolo, -iciattola, -iciattoli, -iciattole | fiume (river) | fiumiciattolo (rivulet) |
Remember:
-
- When a suffix is added, the final vowel of the word is dropped.
- Words that end in –one or –ona add a -c before adding a suffix:
bastone (stick) → bastoncino (small stick) poltrona (armchair) → poltroncina (small armchair)
-
- Some feminine words become masculine when a suffix is added:
la nebbia (fog) → il nebbione (dense fog) la palla (ball) → il pallone (soccer ball) la porta (door) → il portone (front door) la finestra (window) → il finestrino (window of a vehicle) la stanza (room) → lo stanzino (closet)
-
- Multiple suffixes can be added:
cassa (case, crate, trunk) → cassetta (case, box) → cassettina (small box) palla (ball) → pallone (soccer ball) → palloncino (baloon) pezzo (piece) → pezzetto (small piece) → pezzettino (a little bit)
