Masculine Nouns Ending in -A
Most nouns ending in -a are feminine; however, there are some masculine nouns that end in -a, for example, words of Greek origin ending with the suffixes -ma, -gramma and -arca. Below is a partial list of such nouns, which we will updated periodically.
This list does not include nouns ending in -ista e -cida, which are masculine when they refer to a man and feminine when they refer to a woman.
Masculine |
Note |
abracadabra(un) |
invariable |
acaricida(un) |
|
aforisma(l') |
|
aldila (l') |
invariable |
alma (un) |
|
amalgama(l') |
|
Andrea |
Man name |
apripista(l') |
invariable |
arciduca(un) |
|
aroma(un) |
|
asceta(un) |
|
assioma(un) |
|
automa(un) |
|
baba (un) |
invariable |
bagnasciuga(il) |
invariable |
bagnomaria(il) |
invariable |
bamba (un) |
invariable |
barba (un) |
|
barbanera(un) |
invariable |
Barnaba |
Man name |
battistrada(il) |
invariable |
barbera (il) |
Wine |
boa(un) |
invariable |
boia(un) |
invariable |
ca ccia (un) |
invariable |
camerata (un) |
|
Canada(il) |
|
capolinea(il) |
invariable |
cappa (un) |
invariable |
carcinoma(un) |
|
carisma(un) |
|
carovita(il) |
invariable |
cataclisma(il) |
|
cavalcavia(il) |
invariable |
cinema(un) |
Short form of "cinematografo" |
clima(un) |
|
cobra(un) |
invariable |
colera(il) |
invariable |
coma(il) |
invariable |
comma(il) |
|
crocevia(il) |
invariable |
cromosoma(il) |
|
cruciverba(il) |
invariable |
dada(un) |
Follower of dadaisme |
delta (un) |
invariable |
diadema(un) |
|
diaframma(il) |
|
dilemma(un) |
|
diploma(un) |
|
Dogma(il) |
|
doposcuola(il) |
invariable |
dormiveglia(il) |
invariable |
dramma (un) |
|
duca(un) |
|
elettrocardiogramma(un) |
|
ematoma(un) |
|
emblema(un) |
|
encefalogramma(un) |
|
Enea |
Man name |
enfisema(l') |
|
enigma(un) |
|
entroterra(il) |
invariable |
enzima(un) |
|
faccia a faccia (il) |
invariable |
fantasma(un) |
|
fibroma(un) |
|
fonema(un) |
|
gaga (un) |
Invariable dandy |
geometra(un) |
|
gerarca(un) |
|
germicida(il) |
|
gesuita(un) |
|
glaucoma(un) |
|
glioma(un) |
|
gorgonzola (il) |
invariable cheese |
gorilla(un) |
invariable |
grana |
|
Masculine Nouns with Radically Different Feminine Equivalents
Often masculine names referring to people or animals differ from the corresponding feminine form only for the ending. However, some nouns indicating persons and animals have two completely different forms for masculine and feminine. Here are some examples:
MASCULINE |
FEMININE |
abate (l') |
badessa (la) |
babbo (il) |
mamma (la) |
bécco (il) |
capra (la) |
bue (il) |
mucca (la) |
cane (il) |
cagna (la) |
cavalière (il) - [horseman] |
cavallerizza (la) |
cavalière (il) - [knight] |
dama (la) |
cèlibe (il) |
nubile (la) |
compare (il) |
comare (la) |
dio (il) |
dea (la) |
frate (il) |
suora (la) |
fratčllo (il) |
sorella (la) |
gallo (il) |
gallina (la) |
gčnero (il) |
nuora (la) |
maiale (il) |
scrofa (la) |
marito (il) |
moglie (la) |
mŕschio (il) |
femmina (la) |
messčre (il) |
madonna (la) |
montóne (il) |
pecora (la) |
padre (il) |
madre (la) |
padrino (il) |
madrina (la) |
patrňno (il) |
matrona (la) |
pňrco (il) |
scrofa (la) |
prète (il) |
suora (la) |
ré (il) |
regina (la) |
scŕpolo (lo) |
zitella (la) |
stregóne (lo) |
strega (la) |
tňro (il) |
vacca (la) |
uňmo (l') |
donna (la) |
Nouns with two plural forms
Some masculine nouns have two plural forms with different gender: one masculine and one feminine. Their meaning is often radically different.
In general, the plural masculine form ending in -I is used figuratively, while the form in -A is used in a more concrete sense. Sometimes, both forms can be used interchangeably.
The following is a short list of these nouns.
Masculine Singular |
Masculine Plural |
Feminine Plural |
anello (lo) (ring) |
anelli (gli) (rings): "Gli anelli di |
anella (le) (literary: curly hairs) |
braccio (il) (arm) |
bracci (i) (wings, branches, arms): "I bracci della sedia" |
braccia (le) (arms of human body) |
budello (il) (alley, intestine) |
budelli (i) (alleys) |
budella (le) (guts) |
calcagno (il) (heel) |
calcagni (i) (heels) |
calcagna (le) (idiomatic, figurative): "Stare alle calcagna di qualcuno" |
cervello (il) (brain) |
cervelli (i) (brains) |
cervella (le) (idiomatic): "Farsi saltare le |
ciglio (il) (eyelash, curb) |
cigli (i) (edges) (curbs) |
ciglia (le) (eyelashes) |
corno (il) (horn) |
corni (i) (horns, musical instruments) (also idiomatic: "I corni del problema") |
corna (le) (horns): "Le corna del cervo" |
cuoio (il) (leather) |
cuoi (i) (type of leather) |
cuoia (le) (idiomatic): "Tirare le cuoia" |
dito (il) (finger) |
diti (i) (fingers, considered individually) |
dita (le) (fingers, collectively) |
filamento (il) (filament) |
filamenti (i) (filaments) |
filamenta (le) (literary: filaments) |
filo (il) (thread) |
fili (i) (threads) |
fila (le) (figurative: thread): "Tirare le |
fondamento (il) (foundation, basic notion) |
fondamenti (i) (basic notions) |
fondamenta (le) (foundations) |
fuso (il) (spindle) |
fusi (i) (spindles) |
fusa (le) (idiomatic): "Il gatto fa le |
gesto (il) (gesture) |
gesti (i) (gestures) |
gesta (le) (deeds, feats) |
ginocchio (il) (knee) |
ginocchi (i) (knees) |
ginocchia (le) (knees, used collectively) |
grido (il) (scream) |
gridi (i) (screams) |
grida (le) (screams) |
labbro (il) (lip, edge) |
labbri (i) (edges) |
labbra (le) (lips) |
lenzuolo (il) (sheet) |
lenzuoli (i) (sheets) |
lenzuola (le) (sheets, used collectively) |
membro (il) (limb, member) |
membri (i) (members) |
membra (le) (limbs) |
muro (il) (wall) |
muri (i) (walls) |
mura (le) (city walls) |
osso (lo) (bone) |
ossi (gli) (animal bones) |
ossa (le) (human bones) |
sopracciglio (il) (eyebrow) |
sopraccigli (i) (eyebrows) |
sopracciglia (le) (eyebrows, collectively) |
strido (lo) (squeak) |
stridi (gli) (squeaks, less common) |
strida (le) (squeaks) |
urlo (lo) (shout) |
urli (gli) (shouts) |
urla (le) (shouts) |
Invariable Nouns
The following tables show examples of invariable nouns, i.e., words that have one form for both singular and plural.
1) Monosyllables
Singular |
English Equivalent |
Plural |
English Equivalent |
il di |
day |
i di |
days |
il re |
king |
i re |
kings |
il se |
self |
i se |
selves |
il si |
yes |
i si |
yeses |
il si |
B (musical note) |
i si |
B's (musical notes) |
il su |
up |
i su |
ups |
il te |
tea |
i te |
teas |
2) Nouns ending with a consonant
Singular |
English Equivalent |
Plural |
English Equivalent |
autobus (lo) |
bus |
gli autobus |
buses |
bar (il) |
cafe |
i bar |
cafes |
computer (il) |
computer |
i computer |
computers |
condor (il) |
condor |
i condor |
condors |
modem (il) |
modem |
i modem |
modems |
monitor (il) |
monitor |
i monitor |
monitors |
pallet (il) |
pallet |
i pallet |
pallets |
pancreas (il) |
pancreas |
i pancreas |
pancreases |
pandit (il) |
pundit |
i pandit |
pundits |
pantheon (il) |
Pantheon |
i pantheon |
Pantheons |
parquet (il) |
wood floor |
i parquet |
wood floors |
radar (il) |
radar |
i radar |
radars |
scanner (lo) |
scanner |
gli scanner |
scanners |
sport (lo) |
sport |
gli sport |
sports |
tram (il) |
cable car |
i tram |
cable cars |
3) Foreign terms in general
Singular |
English Equivalent |
Plural |
English Equivalent |
drive (il) |
drive |
i drive |
drives |
mouse (il) |
mouse |
i mouse |
mice |
mousse (la) |
mousse |
le mousse |
mousses |
paella (la) |
paella |
le paella |
paellas |
pa nama (il) |
Panama hat |
i pa nama |
Panama hats |
party (il) |
party |
i party |
parties |
pastiche (il) |
pastiche |
i pastiche |
pastiche |
pa¢te (il) |
pa˘te |
i pa˘te |
pa¢tes |
performance (la) |
performance |
le performance |
performances |
software (il) |
software |
i software |
softwares |
4) Nouns ending with an accented vowel (for example, nouns
indicating abstract qualities)
Singular |
English Equivalent |
Plural |
English Equivalent |
baba (il) |
rum cake |
i baba |
rum cakes |
bebe (il) |
baby |
i bebe |
babies |
belta (la) |
beauty |
le belta |
beauties |
caffe (il) |
coffee |
i caffe |
coffees |
canape (il) |
sofa |
i canape |
sofas |
citta (la) |
city |
le citta |
cities |
civilta (la) |
civilization |
le civilta |
civilizations |
ema¹ (lo) |
emu |
gli emaą |
emus |
palto (il) |
overcoat |
i palto |
overcoats |
papa (il)q |
father |
i papa |
fathers |
pascia (il) |
pasha |
i pascia |
pashas |
virta¹ (la) |
virtue |
le virta¹ |
virtues |
5) Abbreviated nouns
Singular |
English Equivalent |
Plural |
English Equivalent |
a uto (la) (automobile) |
car |
le a uto |
cars |
cinema (il) (cinematografo) |
movie theatre |
i cinema |
movie theatres |
dinamo (la) (l'apparecchio dinamoelettrico) |
generator |
le dinamo |
generators |
moto (la) (motocicletta) |
byke |
le moto |
bykes |
para (il) (paracadutista) |
paratrooper |
i para |
paratroopers |
ra dio (la) (il radioricevitore) |
radio |
le radio |
radios |
stereo (lo) (stereofonico) |
stereo |
gli stereo |
stereos |
video (il) (la videocassetta) |
videotape |
i video |
videotapes |
6) Nouns ending in "i"
Singular |
English Equivalent |
Plural |
English Equivalent |
a lcali (lo) |
alkali |
gli a lcali |
alkalis |
a libi (lo) |
alibi |
gli a libi |
alibis |
cisti (la) |
cyst |
le cisti |
cysts |
crisi (la) |
crisis |
le crisi |
crises |
ipofisi (la) |
hypophysis |
le ipofisi |
hypophyses |
para basi (la) |
parabasis |
le parabasi |
parabases |
para frasi (la) |
paraphrase |
le parafrasi |
paraphrases |
para lisi (la) |
paralysis |
le paralisi |
paralyses |
parentesi (la) |
parenthesis |
le parentesi |
parentheses |
tesi (la) |
dissertation |
le tesi |
dissertations |
Feminine words in -A that refers also to men
Even though in general feminine nouns ending in -a refer to women, a few are also used for men. Here is a short list of these terms.
birba (una) |
rascal |
gua rdia (una) |
guard |
guida (una) |
guide |
ma schera (una) |
usher |
recluta (una) |
conscript |
sentinella (una) |
sentinel |
spia (una) |
spy |
vedetta (una) |
look-out |
For example one can say: |
|
|
Mario is a rascal |
|
Claudio is an usher in a theatre |
|
Tonino is a conscript |
Nouns masculine in the singular and feminine in the plural
Some nouns are masculine in the singular and feminine in the plural. Here is a short list.
Singular |
Plural |
English |
centinàio (il) |
centinàia (le) |
hundreds |
migliàio (il) |
migliàia (le) |
thousands |
měglio (il) |
měglia (le) |
miles |
pàio (il) |
pàia (le) |
pairs |
riso (il) |
risa (le) |
laughs |
stàio (lo) |
stàia (le) |
bushels |
tomàio (il) |
tomàia (le) |
upper |
uòvo (l') |
uòva (le) |
eggs |
Names of Inhabitants of Italian and European Regions and World Nations
This is a partial list of names of regions and nations, followed by the article. For each one, the name of its inhabitants is give. This list will be updated from time to time.
Abruzzi (gli) |
abruzzese |
Alto Adige (lo) |
altoatesino |
Basilicata o Lucania (la) |
lucano |
Calabria (la) |
calabrese |
Campania (la) |
campano |
Emilia (la) |
emiliano |
Friuli (il) |
friulano |
Lazio (il) |
laziale |
Liguria (la) |
ligure |
Lombardia (la) |
lombardo |
Marche (le) |
marchigiano |
Molise (il) |
molisano |
Piemonte (il) |
piemontese |
Puglia (la) |
pugliese |
Romagna (la) |
romagnolo |
Sardegna (la) |
sardo |
Sicilia (la) |
siciliano |
Toscana (la) |
toscano |
Trentino (il) |
trentino |
Umbria (la) |
umbro |
Val d'Aosta (la) |
valdaostano |
Veneto (il) |
veneto |
Venezia Giulia (la) |
giuliano |
Afghanistan (lo) |
afgano |
Albania (la) |
albanese |
Algeria (la) |
algerino |
Angola (la) |
angolano |
Arabia Saudita (la) |
saudita |
Argentina (la) |
argentino |
Australia (la) |
australiano |
Austria (la) |
austriaco |
Belgio (il) |
belga |
Bolivia (la) |
boliviano |
Brasile (il) |
brasiliano |
Bretagna (la) |
bretone |
Bulgaria (la) |
bulgaro |
Cambogia (la) |
cambogiano |
Canada (il) |
canadese |
Caraibi (i) |
caribico |
Catalogna (la) |
catalano |
Cile (il) |
cileno |
Cina (la) |
cinese |
Cipro |
cipriota |
Colombia (la) |
colombiano |
Congo (il) |
congolese |
Corea (la) |
coreano |
Croazia (la) |
croato |
Danimarca (la) |
danese |
Ecuador (lo) |
equadoregno |
Egitto (lo) |
egiziano |
Regione Basca |
basco |
Filippine (le) |
filippino |
Finlandia (la) |
finlandese |
Francia (la) |
francese |
Galles (il) |
gallese |
Germania (la) |
tedesco |
Giappone (il) |
giapponese |
Giordania (la) |
giordano |
Grecia (la) |
greco |
Guatemala (il) |
guatemalteco |
Indonesia (la) |
indonesiano |
Inghilterra (l') |
inglese |
Iran (lo) |
iraniano |
Iraq (lo) |
iracheno |
Irlanda (la) |
irlandese |
Islanda (la) |
islandese |
Israele |
israeliano |
Italia (la) |
italiano |
Kossovo (il) |
cossovaro |
Laos (il) |
laotiano |
Libano (il) |
libanese |
Liberia (la) |
liberiano |
Libia (la) |
libico |
Lussemburgo (il) |
lussemburghese |
Macedonia (la) |
macedone |
Madagascar (il) |
malgascio |
Malesia (la) |
malese |
Marocco (il) |
marocchino |
Messico (il) |
messicano |
Mongolia (la) |
mongolo |
Montenegro (il) |
montenegrino |
Nepal (il) |
nepalese |
Nicaragua (il) |
nicaraguense |
Nigeria (la) |
nigeriano |
Norvegia (la) |
norvegese |
Olanda (la) |
olandese |
Pakistan (il) |
pachistano |
Palestina (la) |
palestinese |
Panama (il) |
panamense |
Paraguay (il) |
paraguaiano |
Peraą (il) |
peruviano |
Polonia (la) |
polacco |
Portogallo (il) |
portoghese |
Rebubblica Ceca (la) |
Ceco |
Romania (la) |
rumeno |
Russia (la) |
russo |
El Salvador |
salvadoregno |
Scozia (la) |
scozzese |
Senegal (il) |
senegalese |
Serbia (la) |
serbo |
Siria (la) |
siriano |
Slovacchia (la) |
slovacco |
Tibet (il) |
tibetano |
Slovenia (la) |
sloveno |
Somalia (la) |
somalo |
Spagna (la) |
spagnolo |
Stati Uniti (gli) |
degli Stati Uniti o americano |
Sudan (il) |
sudanese |
Svezia (la) |
svedese |
Thailandia (la) |
tailandese |
Tunisia (la) |
tunisino |
Turchia (la) |
turco |
Uganda (la) |
ugandese |
Ungheria (la) |
ungherese |
Uruguay (lo) |
uruguaiano |
Venezuela (il) |
venezuelano |
Viet Nam (il) |
vietnamita |
Yemen (lo) |
yemenita |
Here are the Italian names of geographical regions of the world.
English |
Italian |
|
Africa, North |
Africa del Nord |
|
Africa, Southern |
Africa del Sud |
|
Africa, Central |
Africa centrale |
|
America, Central |
America centrale |
|
America, North |
America del nord |
|
America, South |
America del sud |
|
Antarctica |
Antartica |
|
Asia, East |
Asia dell´est, Asia orientale |
|
Asia, Central |
Asia centrale |
|
Asia, South-East |
Asia del sud-est, Asia sudorientale |
|
Asia, South |
Asia del sud |
|
Caribbean |
Caraibi |
|
Europe, Eastern |
Europa dell´est, Europa orientale |
|
Europe, Western |
Europa occidentale |
|
Mediterranean |
Mediterraneo |
|
Middle-East |
Medio Oriente |
|
Icelandic Region |
Regione Islandica, Regione islandese |
|
Scandinavia |
Scandinavia |
|
The Pacific |
Pacifico |
|
Russian Federation |
Federazione Russa |
|
Africa, East |
Africa dell´est, Africa orientale |
|
Africa, West |
Africa occidentale |
|
South Alantic Ocean |
Oceano sud atlantico, Oceano Atlantico del su |
|
South Pacific Ocean |
Oceano sud pacifico, Oceano Pacifico del sud |
|
Military ranks (army)
List of military ranks in descending order with an American English equivalent. Functions of an Italian rank do not necessarily correspond to an American rank.
Maresciallo d'Italia |
General of the army [Five star general] |
Generale d'armata |
General [Four star general] |
Generale di còrpo d'armata |
Lieutenat General [Three star general] |
Generale di divisióne |
Major General [Two star general] |
Generale di brigata |
Brigadier General [One star general] |
Colonnèllo |
Colonel |
Tenènte colonnèllo |
Lieutenant Colonel |
Maggióre |
Major |
Capitàno |
Captain |
Tenènte |
First Lieutenant |
Sottotenènte |
Second Lieutenant |
Maresciallo |
Warrant Officer |
Sergènte maggióre |
Sergeant Major |
Sergènte |
Sergeant |
Caporale maggiore |
Corporal |
Caporale |
Private 1 class |
Soldato |
Basic private |
Catholic religious titles
Here is a list of Catholic religious titles with an English equivalent.
Arcidiàcono |
Archdeacon |
Arcivéscovo |
Archbishop |
Beàto |
Blessed |
Cardinale |
Cardinal |
Fra' |
Brother |
Monsignóre |
Monsignor |
Padre |
Father |
Padre generale |
Father general |
Pàrroco |
Parish Priest |
Reverèndo |
Reverend |
Santo Padre |
His Holiness |
Sua Eminènza |
His Eminence |
Sua Santità |
His Holiness |
Suòr |
Sister |
Véscovo |
Bishop |
Vicàrio |
Vicar |
Vicario apostòlico |
Vicar Apostolic |
Titles of nobility
Here is a list of titles of rank or nobility with an English synonim.
Altézza |
Highness |
Altezza Reale |
Royal Highness |
Baronéssa |
Baroness |
Baróne |
Baron |
Baronétto |
Baronet |
Contéssa |
Countess |
Cónte |
Count, Earl |
Granduca |
Grand Duke |
Imperatóre |
Emperor |
Imperatrice |
Empress |
Nòbil Uòmo |
- |
Nòbil Dònna |
- |
Maestà |
Majesty |
Marchése |
Marquess, Marquis |
Prìncipe |
Prince |
Ré |
King |
Regina |
Queen |
Altezza Serenissima |
Most Serene Highness |
Sua Altezza |
Her/His Highness |
Sua Altezza Imperiale |
Her/His Imperial Highness |
Sua Maestà |
Her/His Majesty |
Sua Maestà Imperiale |
Her/His Imperial Majesty |
Viscónte |
Viscount |
10