Compound nouns (nomi composti in Italian) are nouns that are made up of two or more words (think about highway or masterpiece).
Aspirapolvere, soprammobile
Vacuum cleaner, knick-knack
How to form compound nouns in Italian
Compound nouns can be formed with different types of words: nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.
Aspirapolvere, for example, is made up of aspirare, to suck or to suction, and polvere, dust.
Soprammobile, another compound noun in Italian, is made up of sopra, a preposition meaning “above” or “on”, and mobile, piece of furniture. Isn’t a knick-knack an object that stands on a piece of furniture? 😉
The biggest challenge you will face with these types of nouns is: how do you form their plural? This usually depends on the combination of words that make up a compound noun, so even though there are quite a few exceptions that you will have to memorize, you will be able to guess their plural most of the time.
Combinations with nouns
Noun + noun
Compound words with nouns of the same gender form their plural by making the last noun plural.
Il capolavoro, i capolavori
Masterpiece, masterpieces
(capo + lavoro, both masculine)
L’autostrada, le autostrade
Highway, highways
(auto + strada, both feminine)
Compound words with nouns of different genders form their plural by making the first noun plural.
Il capoclasse, i capiclasse
Class monitor, class monitors
(capo + classe, masculine and feminine)
Noun + adjective
Both the noun and the adjective will become plural.
La cassaforte, le casseforti
Safe, safes
(cassa + forte)
Combinations with verbs
Verb + noun
Female nouns in this type of compound nouns in Italian almost always keep their singular form in the plural. Masculine nouns become plural.
Il portacenere, i portacenere
Ashtray, ashtrays
(portare + cenere, feminine)
Verb + verb
These compound words in Italian have no plural form.
Il lasciapassare, i lasciapassare
Permit, permits
(lasciare + passare)
Verb + adverb
They have no change in the plural.
Il buttafuori, i buttafuori
Bouncer, bounces
(buttare + fuori)
Combinations with adjectives
Adjective + noun
Only the noun becomes plural.
L’altopiano, gli altopiani
Plateau, plateaus
(alto + piano)
Il francobollo, i francobolli
Stamp, stamps
(franco + bollo)
Adjective + adjective
These compound nouns in Italian form their plural by making the last adjective plural.
Il pianoforte, i pianoforti
Piano, pianos
(piano + forte)
Il sordomuto, i sordomuti
Deaf-mute, deaf-mutes
(sordo + muto)
Combinations with prepositions
Preposition + noun
The plural is usually formed by making the noun plural.
Il soprannome, i soprannomi
Nickname, nicknames
(sopra + nome)
L’antipasto, gli antipasti
Appetizer, appetizers
(anti + pasto)
Combinations with adverbs
Adverb + verb
These compound words in Italian don’t change in the plural.
Il benestare, i benestare
Approval, approvals
(bene + stare)
Adverb + adjective
Their plural form is unchanged.
Sempreverde
Evergreen
(sempre + verde)
Compound nouns in Italian beginning with capo-
Capo-, when used in a compound noun in Italian, has three meanings:
“The one who’s in charge of a place”
In this case, only “capo” becomes plural as capi-.
Il capoclasse, i capiclasse
Class monitor, class monitors
Il capostazione, i capistazione
Station master, station masters
“The one who’s in charge of a group of people”
Only the last noun becomes plural.
Il capocuoco, i capocuochi
Head chef, head chefs
“The first/best one of a group”
Only the last noun becomes plural.
Il capogiro, i capogiri
Vertigo
Il capolavoro, i capolavori
Masterpiece, masterpieces
More free Italian resources
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