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Learn about modified nouns
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Intro |
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Hi everybody! Marika here. Welcome to Ask a Teacher, where I’ll answer some of your most common Italian questions. |
The Question |
The question for this lesson is: What are modified nouns? |
Explanation |
In Italian, you can modify nouns. That allows you to convey feelings, such as love, hate, or irony, in a concise and effective way. |
“Modified nouns,” called nomi alterati, can take different endings that convey different feelings. |
They’re usually divided into categories. Let’s see which ones. |
To describe something positively or negatively, you can use vezzeggiativi and dispregiativi. |
Vezzeggiativi express endearment. Some common suffixes are -uccio and -ino. For example: tesoruccio (“sweetheart”), gattino (“kitten”). |
Dispregiativi express dislike: common suffixes are -accio and -astro. For example: Scarpaccia (“ugly shoe”), giovinastro (“lout”). |
To describe the aspect of something, you can use accrescitivi and diminutivi: |
Accrescitivi indicate a big size: the most common suffix is -one. For example: ragazzone (“big boy”), nasone (“big nose”). |
Diminutivi indicate smallness: common suffixes are -ino, -etto, -otto, -ello. For example: topino (“little mouse”), bacetto (“small kiss”), leprotto (“small hare”), alberello (“little tree”). |
Outro |
Beware of “fake modified nouns,” or falsi alterati. These are words that look like modified nouns but mean a totally different thing. |
Matto means “crazy person,” but mattone is not a big, crazy man; it’s a “brick”! And mulino means “mill,” not a small mule. That’s mulo. |
Italian children often learn funny nursery rhymes in school about these “false modified nouns.” Here’s one I just invented, ready? Take note! |
La gomma per cancellare, |
Il gommone per andare al mare. |
Col burro puoi cucinare, |
Ma nel burrone non scivolare! |
Se vedi un lampo, c’è il temporale, |
Se vedi un lampone, lo puoi mangiare! |
Which means: |
“The eraser to erase, |
The raft to go out to the sea. |
With butter you can cook, |
But don’t slip down the ravine! |
If you see lightning, that’s a storm, |
If you see a raspberry, you can eat it!” |
Pretty fun, right? Do you know any other “false modified noun”? |
Let us know in the comments! |
A presto! “See you soon!” |
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