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, “spaceship”)

Synonyms

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

Derived terms