-dade/-ção/-são
Feminine Noun Endings
In Portuguese, nouns ending in -dade, -ção, -são, and -ssão are feminine. They are used to turn adjectives or verbs into abstract nouns (like 'happiness', 'decision', or 'discussion').
How It Works
These suffixes are highly productive in Portuguese, meaning they are used to create many new words.
- -dade: Usually attaches to adjectives to describe a quality or state. It corresponds to the English '-ty'.
Example: felicidade (happiness).
Note: Adjectives ending in -vel change to -bilidade (e.g., responsável → responsabilidade). - -ção: Usually attaches to verbs to describe an action or process. It corresponds to the English '-tion'.
Example: educação (education). - -são and -ssão: These attach to verbs to describe an action or result. Use -são for verbs ending in -der, -dir, -ter, or -tir (e.g., decidir → decisão). Use -ssão for verbs ending in -ceder, -gredir, -mitir, or -cutir (e.g., discutir → discussão).
Important Note: While most words ending in -ão are masculine (like o pão), these specific suffixes are feminine. A high-frequency exception to remember is a mão (the hand), which is feminine despite not using these suffixes. Conversely, concrete nouns like o furacão (the hurricane) or o coração (the heart) are masculine.
Examples (5)
- A felicidade é importante.
Happiness is important.
Word by Word: The happiness is important.
Felicidade (from 'feliz') ends in -dade and is feminine, so it uses the article 'a'.
- A educação muda o mundo.
Education changes the world.
Word by Word: The education changes the world.
Educação ends in -ção and is feminine.
- Ela tomou uma decisão difícil.
She made a difficult decision.
Word by Word: She took a decision difficult.
Decisão ends in -são and is feminine, so the adjective 'difícil' (which is invariable) is paired with the feminine article 'uma'.
- A liberdade é um direito.
Liberty is a right.
Word by Word: The liberty is a right.
Liberdade ends in -dade and is feminine.
- A organização da casa está ótima.
The organization of the house is great.
Word by Word: The organization of the house is great.
Organização is feminine, so the adjective 'ótima' must also be feminine.
Common Mistakes
Using masculine articles with -ção, -são, or -ssão nouns.
O educação é boa.A educação é boa.Learners often think all words ending in -ão are masculine. However, when -ão is part of the suffixes -ção, -são, or -ssão, the noun is feminine.
Spanish interference with -dade endings.
A libertad é importante.A liberdade é importante.In Spanish, the ending is -dad. In Portuguese, you must include the final 'e' (-dade).
Assuming every word ending in -ção or -são is feminine.
A furacão é forte.O furacão é forte.Only words where these strings act as suffixes for abstract nouns are feminine. Concrete nouns like 'o furacão' (hurricane), 'o colchão' (mattress), or 'o cartão' (card) are masculine.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- o/a/os/asDefinite Articles
These feminine nouns require the feminine definite article 'a'.
Foundations - Adjective Agreement
Adjectives must agree with the feminine gender of nouns ending in -dade, -ção, and -são.
Foundations - o dia/a mão/a fotoGender Exceptions to -o/-a
This pattern covers common gender rules and exceptions, similar to how -ção is an exception to the general -ão rule.
Level 1 - -ões/-ães/-ãosPlural of -ão Nouns
Nouns ending in -ção and -são almost always form their plural with -ões (e.g., ações, decisões).
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice -dade/-ção/-são in Bubblegum
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