Based on the termination of the singular feminine nouns, the plural is formed according to the following criteria:
A) Feminine nouns ending in –a
1. Singular feminine nouns ending in -a in the plural end in -e.
Singular: La stanza (room) – La casa (home) – La sera (evening) – La pianta (plant) – La figlia (Daughter).
Plural: Le stanze – Le case – Le sere – Le piante – Le figlie.
Exception: L’ala (wing) >> Le ali / L’arma (weapon) >> Le armi.
2. Singular feminine nouns ending in (-ca/-ga) in the plural end in (-che/-ghe).
Singular: L’amica (friend) – La greca (Greek) – La banca (bank) La strega (witch) – La bottega (shop).
Plural: Le amiche – Le greche – Le banche – Le streghe – Le botteghe.
3. Singular feminine nouns ending in (-cia/-gia) in the plural end in (-cie/-gie).
When c, g are preceded by a vowel, they retain the i in the plural.
Singular: La farmacia (pharmacy) – La bugia (lie) – La magia (magic) – La ciliegia (cherry) – La camicia (shirt) – La valigia (suitcase).
Plural: Le farmacie – Le bugie – Le magie – Le ciliegie – Le camicie – Le valigie.
4. Singular feminine nouns ending in (-cia/-gia) in the plural end in (-ce/-ge).
When -c, -g are preceded by a consonant, they lose the i in the plural.
Singular: La provincia (province) – La doccia (shower) – La frangia (bangs) – La pancia (belly) – La spiaggia (beach) – La frangia (fringe) – La pronuncia (pronounce).
Plural: Le province – Le docce – Le frange – Le pance – Le spiagge – Le frange – Le pronunce.
B) Feminine nouns ending in –o
1. Singular feminine nouns ending in -o in the plural end in –i.
Singular: La mano (hand).
Plural: Le mani.
Some female nouns ending in -o in the plural remain unchanged:
Singular: La dinamo (dynamo) – La moto (motorcycle) – La sdraio (deckchair).
Plural: Le dinamo – Le moto – Le sdraio.