־ית

Hebrew

Etymology

Suffix

־ית (-ít) f (plural ־יות)

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

   ‎בעיתי‎ ‎→ ‎בעיתית ‎(ba'ayatít, “problematic”)‎

   ‎צרפתי‎ ‎→ ‎צרפתית ‎(tsarfatít, “French”)‎

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

   ‎מלצר‎ ‎→ ‎מלצרית ‎(miltsarít, “waitress”)‎

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

   ‎שק ‎(“big bag”)‎ ‎→ ‎שקית ‎(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.

   ‎דור‎ ‎→ ‎דורית ‎(dorít, “Dorit”)‎