-co / -go → -chi / -ghi
Plural of Nouns in -co/-go
Masculine nouns ending in -co and -go change their plural based on word stress: -chi/-ghi (hard) for stress on the second-to-last syllable, and -ci/-gi (soft) for stress on the third-to-last syllable.
How It Works
In Italian, masculine nouns ending in -co and -go follow specific rules to determine if they keep the 'hard' sound (k/g) or switch to a 'soft' sound (ch/j) in the plural.
1. The Accent Rule (Masculine Nouns in -co/-go)
- Penultimate Stress (Paroxytone): If the stress is on the second-to-last syllable, the plural is usually -chi or -ghi. This preserves the hard sound using the 'h' diacritic. Examples: albergo (al-bèr-go) → alberghi; parco (pàr-co) → parchi.
- Antepenultimate Stress (Proparoxytone): If the stress is on the third-to-last syllable, the plural is usually -ci or -gi. The sound becomes soft. Examples: medico (mè-di-co) → medici; biologo (bi-ò-lo-go) → biologi.
- The -ico Suffix: Many nouns ending in the suffix -ico are proparoxytones and often take the soft -ici plural (e.g., comico → comici, elastico → elastici), though there are notable exceptions.
2. Nouns in -ca and -ga
Feminine nouns ending in -ca and -ga always maintain the hard sound in the plural by adding an 'h'. The stress position does not matter. Examples: amica → amiche; riga → righe. Masculine nouns ending in -ca and -ga (like collega, duca) also maintain the hard sound in the plural (colleghi, duchi), with the notable exception of il belga (the Belgian), which becomes i belgi.
3. The Semantic Rule (-logo and -fago)
Nouns ending in these suffixes follow a meaning-based rule:
- People/Professions: Usually soft plural. For -logo, use -logi (psicologi, archeologi). For -fago referring to people, use -fagi (antropofagi).
- Objects/Concepts: Usually hard plural. For -logo, use -loghi (dialoghi, cataloghi). (Note: names of objects usually take the hard plural, so Treccani gives esofaghi and sarcofaghi; the soft forms esofagi and sarcofagi are also found).
4. Important Exceptions and Double Plurals
Some common words ignore the accent rule or allow both forms:
- amico (friend) → amici (soft, despite penultimate stress).
- nemico (enemy) → nemici (soft).
- greco (Greek) → greci (soft).
- porco (pig) → porci (soft).
- mago (magician) → maghi (hard, but note the irregular Re Magi for the Three Wise Men).
- Hard Plurals with Antepenultimate Stress: Some nouns keep the hard sound despite the accent position, such as obbligo → obblighi, carico → carichi, valico → valichi, profugo → profughi, and naufrago → naufraghi.
- incarico (task) → incarichi (hard).
- Double Plurals: Some words like chirurgo (surgeon) can be either chirurghi or chirurgi, and stomaco (stomach) can be stomachi or stomaci, though the hard form is often preferred in modern usage.
Examples (5)
- Gli alberghi in centro sono molto cari.
The hotels in the center are very expensive.
Word by Word: The hotels in center are very expensive.
'Albergo' has stress on the penultimate syllable (al-bèr-go), so it takes the hard plural 'alberghi'.
- I medici lavorano in ospedale.
The doctors work in the hospital.
Word by Word: The doctors work in hospital.
'Medico' has stress on the antepenultimate syllable (mè-di-co), so it takes the soft plural 'medici'.
- Ho molti amici italiani.
I have many Italian friends.
Word by Word: I have many friends Italians.
'Amico' is a major exception; despite penultimate stress, it becomes 'amici'.
- Dobbiamo leggere questi dialoghi.
We must read these dialogues.
Word by Word: We must read these dialogues.
Nouns in -logo referring to things (like 'dialogo') usually take the hard plural 'dialoghi'.
- Gli archeologi studiano il passato.
Archaeologists study the past.
Word by Word: The archaeologists study the past.
Nouns in -logo referring to people (like 'archeologo') usually take the soft plural 'archeologi'.
Common Mistakes
Writing 'albergi' instead of 'alberghi'.
Gli albergi sono chiusi.Gli alberghi sono chiusi.Without the 'h', the 'g' followed by 'i' would be pronounced soft (like 'j'). To keep the hard 'g' sound of the singular 'albergo', you must add the 'h'.
Applying the accent rule to feminine nouns.
Le amice sono qui.Le amiche sono qui.Feminine nouns in -ca and -ga ALWAYS take the 'h' in the plural to keep the hard sound, regardless of where the stress is. See plural of feminine nouns in -ca/-ga.
Regularizing 'amico' to 'amichi'.
I miei amichi.I miei amici.'Amico' is one of the most common exceptions to the penultimate stress rule and always becomes 'amici'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the plural of nouns ending in -co and -go, a learner must first be familiar with standard masculine noun endings and the general rules for forming plurals in Italian. This pattern builds on those basics by introducing specific phonetic rules (the addition of 'h') and common exceptions.
Related Patterns
- -ca / -ga → -che / -ghePlural of Feminine Nouns in -ca/-ga
Feminine nouns in -ca/-ga are often confused with masculine -co/-go nouns, but they follow a simpler 'always hard' rule.
Level 1 - -o / -aNoun Gender (-o/-a)
Understanding the base gender of nouns ending in -o is necessary before applying pluralization rules.
Level 1 - Adjective Agreement
Adjectives ending in -co/-go (like 'stanco' or 'largo') follow these same phonetic rules when agreeing with nouns.
Level 1 - lo / gliSpecial Definite Article 'Lo/gli'
Many nouns ending in -co/-go (like 'psicologo' or 'storico') require the special plural article 'gli'.
Level 1
Sources
Practice -co / -go → -chi / -ghi in Bubblegum
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