Adjectives
Learn how to use adjectives in Italian to describe people, places, and things.
Adjectives in Italian
Italian adjectives agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they refer to.
General Rules
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Adjectives ending in -o (4 forms)
- Masculine singular: -o (e.g., il ragazzo alto - the tall boy)
- Feminine singular: -a (e.g., la ragazza alta - the tall girl)
- Masculine plural: -i (e.g., i ragazzi alti - the tall boys)
- Feminine plural: -e (e.g., le ragazze alte - the tall girls)
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Adjectives ending in -e (2 forms)
- Singular (masculine and feminine): -e (e.g., il libro interessante, la lezione interessante)
- Plural (masculine and feminine): -i (e.g., i libri interessanti, le lezioni interessanti)
Examples
| Italian | English | German |
|---|---|---|
| Un uomo buono | A good man | Ein guter Mann |
| Una casa nuova | A new house | Ein neues Haus |
| Due macchine veloci | Two fast cars | Zwei schnelle Autos |
| Un problema difficile | A difficult problem | Ein schwieriges Problem |
Position of Adjectives
Generally, qualifying adjectives follow the noun (e.g., un gatto nero - a black cat). Some common adjectives can precede the noun for emphasis or a different meaning (e.g., un vecchio amico - an old friend [long-time] vs. un amico vecchio - an old friend [aged]).