־ית

See also: ית

Hebrew

Suffix

־ית • (-ít) f (plural ־יות)

1. For masculine singular adjectives in ־י (-í), replacing that ending to produce feminine singular forms.

   ‎בְּעָיָתִי (“problematic m sg”) + ‎־ית → ‎בְּעָיָתִית (ba'ayatít, “problematic f sg”)

   צרפתי ‎→ צרפתית (tsarfatít, “French”)

2. Appended to certain masculine nouns denoting men, forming feminine counterparts denoting women or females.

   מֶלְצַר ‎→ מֶלְצָרִית (miltsarít, “waitress”)

3. Appended to certain masculine nouns denoting large items, forming feminine counterparts denoting corresponding small items.

   שַׂק (“big bag”) ‎→ שׂקִּית (sakít, “small bag”)

4. Forming proper nouns denoting languages (identical to feminine singular adjectives).

   צרפתית (tsarfatít, “French”)

5. Forming female given names; especially, appended to male given names to form female counterparts.

   דּוֹר (“Dor”) ‎→ דּוֹרִית (“Dorit”)

6. Forming words describing vehicles.

   ‎מַשָּׂא (masá, “cargo”) + ‎־ית → ‎מַשָּׂאִית (masa'ít, “truck”)

   ‎חָלָל (khalál, “space”) + ‎־ית → ‎חֲלָלִית (khalalít, “spacecraft”)

Synonyms

• (forming feminine counterparts denoting females): ־ת (-et), ־ה (-ah)

Derived terms

Hebrew terms suffixed with ־ית