I nomi

I nomi (nouns): genere (gender)

All Italian nouns have a gender.

1. Nouns ending in -e may be masculine or feminine. However:
   • nouns ending in -ore are always masculine
   • nouns ending in -zione are always feminine
2. Abbreviated nouns retain the gender of the words from which they derive:
   • auto (from “automobile”): feminine
   • bici (from “bicicletta”): feminine
   • cinema (from “cinematografo”): masculine
   • foto (from “fotografia”): feminine
   • moto (from “motocicletta”): feminine

I nomi (nouns): numero (number)

1. Nouns ending in -ca/ga/go
   

   singolare	plurale
   -ca	-che	amica --> amiche
   -ga	-ghe	targa (license plate) --> targhe
   -go	-ghi	luogo (place) --> luoghi

2. Nouns ending with an accented vowel or a consonant and abbreviated nouns do not change in the plural.
   • un caffè –> due caffè
   • un film –> due film
   • una moto –> due moto
3. Nouns ending in -io 
   

   	singolare	plurale
   stressed -i-	-io	-ii	zio (uncle) --> zii
   unstressed -i-	-io	-i	negozio (store) --> negozi

4. Nouns ending in -co
   

   	singolare	plurale
   The stress is right before -co*	-co	-chi	pacco (package) --> pacchi
   The stress is two syllables before -co	-co	-ci	medico (doctor) --> medici

   * exceptions:

   • amico –> amici
   • nemico (enemy) –> nemici