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-are

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Etymology and origin of the Italian word -are

-are1 verb ending

Confidence
Established
Formation
Inherited
Inherited from
Latin -are
Ultimate origin
Latin -āre

Pronunciation

Forms

-are (verb-forming suffix)[1]

Etymology

The infinitive ending is inherited from Latin -āre, the ending of the Latin first conjugation.[2][3][4][1] The same ending is still used to form new verbs from nouns and adjectives, as in calmare, sciare and viaggiare.[3][1]

Meanings

Suffix

  1. The infinitive ending of the verbs of the first conjugation, the largest class of regular verbs: amare, lavorare, mangiare.[2][3][1]
  2. A productive suffix forming new verbs from nouns or adjectives: calmare from calma, sciare from sci.[3][1]

-are2 adjective suffix

Confidence
Established
From
Latin -aris
Ultimate origin
Latin -ālis

Pronunciation

Forms

-are m or f by sense (adjective-forming suffix, plural -ari)[1]

Etymology

The adjective suffix is from Latin -āris.[5][6][3][1] The Latin suffix is a variant of -ālis, used instead of it after a stem containing an ⟨l⟩, as in lūnāris from lūna; the change of ⟨l⟩ to ⟨r⟩ is a dissimilation.[2][3][1] Most Italian adjectives with the suffix are of Latin origin.[2][3]

Meanings

Suffix

  1. Forms adjectives from nouns, expressing a relation to the thing the noun names: lunare, militare, polmonare, collinare.[5][7][2][3][1]
  2. In old adjectives that have become nouns: alveare, collare, focolare, casolare.[3][5]

Usage notes

Nouns formed with the adjective suffix, such as cellulare and pendolare, began as adjectives used as nouns.[6][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Zingarelli, Nicola (2009), Lo Zingarelli 2010: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Bologna: Zanichelli
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Duro, Aldo (ed.) (1986–1994), Vocabolario della lingua italiana, Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana; online ed. treccani.it/vocabolario (2008 copy)
  4. ^ Gabrielli, Aldo (2020), Grande dizionario italiano, digital ed., Milano: Hoepli
  5. ^ a b c d Devoto, Giacomo; Oli, Gian Carlo; Serianni, Luca; Trifone, Maurizio (2026), Nuovo Devoto–Oli: il vocabolario dell'italiano contemporaneo, digital ed., Milano: Le Monnier
  6. ^ a b Nocentini, Alberto; Parenti, Alessandro (2010), l'Etimologico: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Firenze: Le Monnier
  7. ^ Sabatini, Francesco; Coletti, Vittorio; Manfredini, Manuela (2026), Dizionario italiano Sabatini Coletti, digital ed., Milano: Sansoni / Rizzoli Larousse

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“-are.” Etymologically, 10 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/it/-are. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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