Nouns of two plural forms
Some masculine nouns, inherited from the Latin neuter class of the 2nd declension (sg. -um : pl. -a), have two plural forms: one in -i (masculine) and another in -a (feminine). Their meaning may be 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 such nouns:
| Masculine Noun in Singular | Masculine Plural in -i | Feminine Plural in -a | ||||||
| anèllo (lo) | ring | anèlli (gli) | rings Gli anelli di Saturno |
anèlla (le) | curly hairs (literary) | |||
| bràccio (il) | arm | bracci (i) | wings, branches, arms I bracci della sedia |
bràccia (le) | arms of human body | |||
| budèllo (il) | alley, intestine | budèlli (i) | alleys | budèlla (le) | guts | |||
| calcagno (il) | heel | calcagni (i) | heels | calcagna (le) | (idiomatic, figurative): stare alle calcagna di qualcuno |
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| cervèllo (il) | brain | cervèlli (i) | brains | cervèlla (le) | (idiomatic): farsi saltare le cervella |
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| cìglio (il) | eyelash, curb |
cigli (i) | curbs edges |
cìglia (le) | eyelashes | |||
| còrno (il) | horn | còrni (i) | horns (music.); (also idiomatic): I corni del problema |
còrna (le) | horns: le corna del cervo |
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| cuòio (il) | leather | cuòi (i) | type of leather | cuòia (le) | (idiomatic): tirare le cuoia |
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| dito (il) | finger | diti (i) | fingers (considered individually) | dita (le) | fingers (collectively) | |||
| filaménto (il) | filament | filaménti (i) | filaments | filaménta (le) | (literary) filaments | |||
| filo (il) | thread | fili (i) | threads | fila (le) | thread (fig.): tirare le fila" |
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| fondaménto (il) | foundation, basic notion | fondaménti (i) | basic notions | fondaménta (le) | foundations | |||
| fuso (il) | spindle | fusi (i) | spindles | fusa (le) | (idiomatic): Il gatto fa le fusa |
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| gèsto (il) | gesture | gèsti (i) | gestures | gèsta (le) | deeds, feats | |||
| ginòcchio (il) | knee | ginòcchi (i) | knees | ginòcchia (le) | knees (used collectively) | |||
| grido (il) | scream | gridi (i) | screams | grida (le) | screams | |||
| labbro (il) | lip, edge | labbri (i) | edges | labbra (le) | lips | |||
| lenzuòlo (il) | sheet | lenzuòli (i) | sheets | lenzuòla (le) | sheets (used collectively) | |||
| mèmbro (il) | limb, member | mèmbri (i) | members | mèmbra (le) | limbs | |||
| muro (il) | wall | muri (i) | walls | mura (le) | city walls | |||
| òsso (lo) | bone | òssi (gli) | animal bones | òssa (le) | human bones | |||
| sopraccìglio (il) | eyebrow | sopraccigli (i) | eyebrows | sopraccìglia (le) | eyebrows (collectively) | |||
| strido (lo) | squeak | stridi (gli) | squeaks (less common) | strida (le) | squeaks | |||
| urlo (lo) | shout | urli (gli) | shouts | urla (le) | shouts | |||
Lists of Nouns with particularities
General Description of the Italian noun
Descriptive Italian Grammar
Italian Language Main Page
Modern Romance Languages Main
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© Zdravko Batzarov
