Feminine Nouns in -ica and -ka

Feminine Forms of Nouns

Level 4

Add -ica or -ka to make a feminine noun.

How It Works

MasculineFeminine
učiteljučiteljica
studentstudentica
doktordoktorica
komšijakomšinica
BosanacBosanka
AmerikanacAmerikanka

The suffix -ica is common for jobs. A masculine in -ac loses the -ac and takes -ka, as in Bosanac, Bosanka. Some words change the stem, for example komšija becomes komšinica.

The feminine word is an ordinary noun in -a. It follows the cases of feminine nouns, so you use Vidim studenticu in the accusative.

There are many exceptions and some words work in both genders. Speakers sometimes use the masculine for a woman, as in Ona je doktor, but the feminine is common and understood. Not every job noun has a form in use.

Use the feminine when you speak about a woman and you want to be precise.

Examples (4)

  1. Moja učiteljica se zove Ajla.

    My teacher is called Ajla.

    Učiteljica is the feminine of učitelj.

  2. Selma je studentica u Sarajevu.

    Selma is a student in Sarajevo.

    Studentica is the feminine of student.

  3. Emina je Bosanka.

    Emina is a Bosnian woman.

    Bosanka comes from Bosanac.

  4. Moja komšinica pravi odličnu pitu.

    My neighbour makes excellent pita.

    Komšinica is the feminine of komšija.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the masculine nationality word for a woman.

    Ona je Bosanac.
    Ona je Bosanka.

    For a woman, the feminine form is Bosanka.

How It Connects

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Feminine Nouns in -ica and -kaLevel 4Feminine Forms of Nouns

Learn This First

Suffixes make feminine nouns.

Words in This Pattern

učiteljučiteljicastudentstudenticadoktorAmerikanacAmerikankaBosanacBosanka-ica-ka