In Italian, adjectives agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. There are three types of Italian adjectives. See the table below, which highlights their different endings.
Adjectives of the first and second type are the most common. Adjectives of the third type are few, but they are frequently used. Examples include comunista (communist), fascista (fascist), ottimista (optimist), and pessimista (pessimist).
Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Masc./Fem. Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural | Masc./Fem. Plural | |
| First Type (4 different endings) | nuovo | nuova | NA | nuovi | nuove | NA |
| Second Type (2 different endings) | NA | NA | intelligente | NA | NA | intelligenti |
| Third Type (3 different endings) | NA | NA | femminista | femministi | femministe | NA |
Adjectives of the first and second type are the most common. Adjectives of the third type are few, but they are frequently used. Examples include comunista (communist), fascista (fascist), ottimista (optimist), and pessimista (pessimist).
Rules and Uses
- Certain adjectives change their spelling in the plural. These changes follow the same pattern as nouns, which we saw in a previous lesson. Some spelling changes in adjectives depend on where the stress is in the word. See the following tables with common examples.
Stress on the penultimate syllable:
-co --> -chi bianco --> bianchi -go --> -ghi lungo --> lunghi -ca --> -che bianca --> bianche -ga --> -ghe lunga --> lunghe -gia --> -ge grigia --> grige Stress on syllable before the penultimate (the stress is in italics):
-co --> -ci simpatico --> simpatici -ca --> -che simpatica --> simpatiche Final -i is unstressed:
-io --> -i vecchio --> vecchi -ia --> -ie vecchia --> vecchie Final -i is stressed:
-io --> -ii restio --> restii (reluctant) -ia --> -ie restia --> restie
More examples:Ho conosciuto due uomini antipatici.
I met two unpleasant men.
Entrambi gli sposi vengono da famiglie ricche.
Both the bride and groom come from rich families.
Vedi il ragazzo con i capelli ricci?
Do you see the boy with curly hair? - If an adjective modifies two or more nouns of different genders, the masculine plural form is always used.
La segreteria e il capo sono furbi.
The secretary and the boss are shrewd.
La signora e il signore sono intelligenti.
The lady and the man are intelligent. - Adjectives generally follow the noun they modify. All adjectives preceded by an adverb (molto, poco, troppo, tanto, etc.) must follow the noun.
Mia sorella ha comprato due vestiti eleganti.
My sister bought two elegant dresses.
Stasera beviamo un vino rosso.
Tonight we will drink a red wine.
Quelli sono due ragazzi molto entusiasti.
Those are two very enthusiastic kids.
Ho letto un libro piuttosto interessante.
I read a rather interesting book. - Numbers, as well as possessive and indefinite adjectives usually precede the noun they modify.
Le prime due ore del giorno non faccio niente.
The first two hours of the day, I do nothing.
I miei amici sono andati via.
My friends left.
Perché non prendiamo un’altra strada?
Why don’t we take another way? - Some common descriptive adjectives usually precede the noun. They are as follows:
bello .............. beautiful
brutto .............. ugly
buono .............. good
cattivo .............. bad
grande .............. large/great
piccolo .............. small
giovane .............. young
vecchio .............. old
lungo .............. longHo un piccolo problema.
I have a small problem.
Una mia giovane amica lavora lì
A young friend of mine works there.
Che cattivo gusto!
What bad taste! - Depending on the position an adjective takes, it might have a different meaning. Following are some common examples.
una cara persona a dear person una macchina cara an expensive car un grand’uomo a great man un uomo grande a large/tall man un nuovo computer another computer un computer nuovo a brand-new computer un vecchio amico an old friend (known for many years) un amico vecchio an old (elderly) friend una certa ragazza a certain girl una cosa certa a sure thing un pover'uomo an unfortunate man un uomo povero a poor man diverse cose a few things cose diverse different things - Adjectives usually precede the noun they modify when given special emphasis.
un gelido inverno a freezing, chilly winter un’elegante collana an elegant necklace