Italian Modifying Suffixes Nomi Alterati

Sometimes an Italian noun can be modified to express a particular quality (large, small, pretty, ugly) without using a qualifying Italian adjective. These nouns are created by taking the root of the noun and adding a suffix such as -ino, -one, -etto, or -accio. Italian nouns formed this way are called i nomi alterati (altered, or modified, nouns). Italian grammarians refer to this type of suffix modification as alterazione (alteration). There are four types of nomi alterati: diminutivi (diminutives), accrescitivi (augmentatives), vezzeggiativi (pet names or terms of endearment), and peggiorativi or dispregiativi (pejoratives or derogatory terms). Most common Italian nouns can be modified, but keep in mind that the gender and number of the suffix must agree with the noun. Using Nomi Alterati How and when are modified Italian nouns used? Unlike, for example, choosing auxiliary verbs or forming plural adjectives, Italian speakers are never required to use nomi alterati. There are no hard and fast grammar rules for when its appropriate, in conversation or print, to use them. Rather, its a personal linguistic choice—some people use them frequently, and others tend to use adjectives instead. It also depends on the audience, the setting, and on the level of rapport between the parties. In certain situations, some modified Italian nouns would be inappropriate or out of context. But using a well-chosen nome alterato, pronounced with the right inflection and tone, can communicate volumes. In one sense, its analogous to humor—timing is everything. Alterati Diminutivi (Diminutives) A diminutivo usually conveys such meanings as: small, tiny. The following are examples of suffissi alterativi (alternate endings) used to form diminutivi (diminutives): -ino: mamma—mammina; minestra—minestrina; pensiero—pensierino; ragazzo—ragazzino-(i)cino (a variant of -ino): bastone—bastoncino; libro—libric(c)ino-olino (a variant of -ino): sasso—sassolino; topo—topolino; freddo—freddolino; magro—magrolino-etto: bacio—bacetto; camera—cameretta; casa—casetta; lupo—lupetto; basso—bassetto; piccolo—piccoletto. Frequently used concurrently with other suffixes: scarpa—scarpetta—scarpettina; secco—secchetto—secchettino-ello: albero—alberello; asino—asinello; paese—paesello; rondine—rondinella; cattivo—cattivello; povero—poverello-(i)cello (a variant of -ello): campo—campicello; informazione—informazioncella-erello (a variant of -ello): fatto—fatterello; fuoco—f(u)ocherello. Frequently used concurrently with other suffixes: storia—storiellaà ¢â‚¬â€storiellina; bucco—bucherello—bucherellino-icci(u)olo: asta—asticci(u)ola; festa—festicciola; porto—porticciolo; sometimes can also have a pejorative sense: donna—donnicci(u)ola-(u)olo: faccenda—faccenduola; montagna—montagnuola; poesia—poesiola-otto: contadino—contadinotto; pieno—pienotto; giovane—giovanotto; ragazzo—ragazzotto; basso—bassotto. The ending also refers to a juvenile animal: aquila—aquilotto; lepre—leprotto; passero—passerotto-iciattolo (considered a diminutive/pejorative combination): febbre—febbriciattolo; fiume—fiumiciattolo; libro—libriciattolo; mostro—mostriciattolo Alterati Accrescitivi (Augmentatives) An accrescitivo usually conveys such meanings as: large, big, grand. It is the opposite of a diminutive. The following are examples of suffissi alterativi (alternate endings) used to form accrescitivi (augmentatives): -one: febbre—febbrona (febbrone); libro—librone; pigro—pigrone; mano—manona (manone); ghiotto—ghiottone. Frequently used concurrently with other suffixes: uomo—omaccio—omaccione; pazzo—pazzerello—pazzerellone. Sometimes the intermediate term is not used in contemporary Italian: buono—bonaccione-acchione (has an ironic connotation): frate—fratacchione; volpe—volpacchione; furbo—furbacchione; matto—mattachione Alterati Vezzeggiativi (Pet Names or Terms of Endearment) A  vezzeggiativo  usually conveys such meanings  as:  affection, sympathy, enjoyment, grace. The following are examples of  suffissi alterativi  (alternate endings) used to form  vezzeggiativi  (pet names or terms of endearment): -acchiotto  (considered a diminutive/pet name combination): lupo—lupacchiotto; orso—orsacchiotto; volpe—volpacchiotto; furbo—furbacchiotto-uccio: avvocato—avvocatuccio; casa—casuccia; cavallo—cavalluccio; caldo—calduccio; freddo—fredduccio-uzzo  (a variant of -uccio): pietra—pietruzza Paolo, a native Italian speaker from Milano, gives an  example of how  vezzeggiativi  are used: I have a friend who calls me Paoletto. This doesnt sound very much like a man, of course, but its out of affection. More realistically, my brother calls me Paolone, Big Paolo. Alterati Peggiorativi (Pejoratives) A  peggiorativo  usually conveys such meanings as: contempt, defiance, disdain, scorn (for), disregard, self-contempt, self-disgust. The following are examples of  suffissi alterativi  (alternate endings) used to form  peggiorativi  (pejoratives): -ucolo: donna—donnucola; maestro—maestrucolo; poeta—poetucolo-accio: coltello—coltellaccio; libro—libraccio; voce—vociaccia; avaro—avaraccio-azzo  (a variant of -accio): amore—amorazzo; coda—codazzo-astro  (has a pejorative sense when the root is a noun, and an attenuated sense when the root is an adjective): medico—medicastro; poeta—poetastro; politico—politicastro; bianco—biancastro; dolce—dolciastro; rosso—rossastro Spelling Changes to Noun Root When creating  i nomi alterati, a few nouns undergo a spelling change to the root when modified. For example: uomo—omonecane—cagnone Sex Changes to Noun Root In some instances the root noun changes gender when creating  i nomi alterati. For example: barca (feminine noun)—un barcone (masculine noun): a large boatdonna (feminine noun)—un donnone (masculine noun): a big (large) womanfebbre (feminine noun)—un febbrone (masculine noun): very high feversala (feminine noun)—un salone (masculine noun): a large room Alterati Falsi Certain nouns that appear to be  nomi alterati  are actually nouns in and off themselves. For example, the following forms are  falsi alterati  (false altered nouns): tacchino  (not the diminutive of  tacco)bottone  (not the augmentative of  botto)mattone  (not the augmentative of  matto)focaccia  (not the pejorative of  foca)occhiello  (not the diminutive of  occhio)burrone  (not the augmentative of  burro)colletto  (not the diminutive of  collo)collina  (not the diminutive of  colla)limone  (not the augmentative of  lima)cerotto  (not the augmentative of  cero) In addition, be aware when creating  nomi alterati  that not all nouns can be combined with all suffixes. Either the term sounds off-key to the ear (Italian is a musical language, after all), or the resulting word is linguistically awkward. In general, the repetition of the same sound element in both the root and suffix should be avoided:  tetto  can be modified into  tettino  or  tettuccio, but not  tettetto;  contadino  can be modified into  contadinello  or  contadinetto, but not  contadinino. Its best to use only forms you have observed in print or heard used by native speakers. When in doubt, consult a dictionary. On the other hand, if you want to stretch your creative language skills, try coining a  neologismo  (neologism). Matching nouns with previously unused modifying suffixes is one way that new words are formed. After all, youd get a big laugh from native Italians if, after eating an unappetizing pizza, you were to declare, Che  pizzaccia!.