Noun gender. Masculine and feminine nouns at the same time Words feminine and masculine

Spanish words are masculine and feminine at the same time.

AT Spanish there is an interesting group of words (for our happiness, a small one), which can be both masculine and feminine. The meaning varies depending on the gender.

And, surprisingly, these are words that almost any person who has just started learning Spanish knows: azucar, arte, analisis, mar, fin, puente, canal, etc.

The word analisis in the overwhelming majority of cases is used in the masculine gender (el analisis), but if you meet la analisis - do not be surprised, earlier this word was also actively used in the feminine gender:

Necesito hacer los analisis para saber por que me duele tanto la cabeza.

The word arte in the meaning of “art” (i.e. “reflection of reality in artistic images”) is used in the masculine gender:

En la universidad me gustaría estudiar el arte clasico

Also in the masculine form, el arte means "fishing net"

Los artes de pesca - fishing tackle

In the feminine gender, el arte * - las artes - “skill, skill, cunning”

Me apetece dedicarse a las artes plasticas

I won’t be surprised if even the Spaniards themselves don’t know that such an everyday word as azucar (sugar) can be of two genders, because it is usually used in the masculine gender.

Mi doctor dice que el azucar es necesario para la salud

But they can be forgiven for not knowing, because la azucar is a term used by people whose work is connected with sugar:

La azucar cruda - raw sugar

La azucar amarilla - yellow sugar (secondary product)

Canal in the meaning of "canal, artificial channel" is used in the masculine form

En San Petersburgo hay muchos canales

Canal in the meaning of "vessel" (in the body) is usually feminine.

Las canales linfáticas - lymphatic vessels

The word fin can mean "goal" or "end" and is always used in the masculine form.

Mi fin es hacer una magnífica carrera en el Minesterio de Hacienda

Al fin, por fin - finally, in the end

The only phrase where fin is used in the feminine gender is “the end of the world” - la fin del mundo.

La mar is spoken only by sailors and residents of some coastal areas, while ordinary people use the word “sea” in the masculine form

Pensamos pasar las vacaciones en la costa del mar Mediterraneo

But la mar is also found in most phraseological units and set expressions (frases hechas)

La mar de - a large amount of something: Julia es la mar de encanto.

Hacerse a la mar - go out to sea

El puente (bridge) is advised to be used in the masculine form.

Debajo del puente hay un mundo de gente

El/la reuma (rheumatism) is used in both genders.

* Do not be surprised that the feminine noun arte is preceded by the article male el. The point is that if Spanish noun feminine starts with stressed a, then the article before the word will be el.

Notes. 1. Due to the fact that the Spanish language is implemented in various national variants (Pyrenean, Mexican, Cuban, Peruvian, etc.), some nouns can be of different gender depending on the zone of use. The Spaniards say la vuelta - surrender, el columpio - swing, 1a sartén - frying pan, la bombilla - light bulb, and in many Latin American countries these nouns have the opposite gender el vuelto, la columpia, el sartén, el bombillo.

We already know that in Spanish all words are masculine and feminine. But there is a special group of words in which there is no difference between masculine and feminine. That is, there are words that can be both feminine and masculine. Moreover, some words, when changing the gender, change the meaning radically, while another group of words, if it changes, then only slightly.

The Spaniards call this phenomenon "género ambiguo", I would advise you to just remember it, it happens ... Because these words are quite common in our Everyday life. These are not exceptions, but rather the norms of Spanish vocabulary. Let's look at them and try not to get confused in use. So:

No difference in meaning

In the modern dictionary of the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language, they appear as words with two genders at the same time. There are about 105 such words in total, but many of them are not so common in everyday speech. Some of them are outdated or specific. Not every Spaniard is able to explain the difference, if any. For example, many words are used in different genders due to the existence of many dialects, geographical location habits and frequency of use. Here are the most common ones with a few comments:

El linde - la linde: border, boundary, border sign.

El mar - la mar: the sea and the figurative meaning of "a lot of something."

Most often, of course, you will meet "el mar". The geographical name of the sea will always be used only with the masculine gender: el mar Negro, el mar Mediterráneo.

La mar is more used in a metaphorical sense, in poetry, for example. And also in the feminine, people who live in the immediate vicinity of the sea and are associated with it say:

Lloró una mar de lágrimas (wept a sea of ​​tears), una mar de intrigas (a sea of ​​intrigue), alta mar (open sea).

El reuma-la reuma: rheumatism. (most often reumatismo is used).

El tilde - la tilde: tilde (a sign above the letters, for example, the letter Ñ in Spanish), a trifle, a trifle. It is used in the feminine and masculine form in grammar, and in the meaning of "a trifle, a trifle" it says la tilde.

El arte, like la arte, is used in the meaning of "art, creativity, craftsmanship." True, for example, in such a case, when it comes to the arts in general, for example, Academia de Bellas Artes ”(Academy of Fine Arts), the feminine gender is used.

El azúcar - la azúcar: sugar. In Russian translators, and more often in everyday life, they say "el azúcar". But there may also be a female version, for example, in the description of the production process, so be prepared not to be surprised.

For reference: And these words once also met both with the article el, and with la, but now these words cannot be used simultaneously in two genders. Since in latest version in the Royal Academy Dictionary they appear as words with only a masculine article. Although, as noted earlier, no one has canceled the distribution of a certain form in colloquial speech in different regions of the country.

El fin-la fin: the end

El puente - la puente: the bridge

El sabor - la sabor: taste

El analisis - la analisis: analysis

Words that change their meaning with gender

It is necessary to know they exist and take on a different meaning, depending on which article comes in front. Here again is an incomplete list of these words, but these are the most commonly used ones. Notice how the translation changes and try to just memorize them.

	Cut, cut		Courtyard (royal)
	money, capital
	Priest		Remedy for treatment
	Police officer
	mulberry tree		morality, morality
	Guide, conductor		Guide
	Customs officer		vision, vision
	Security guard, sentry
			Forehead, front side
	message, notice		Party, participant, role in the theater
	Consonance		Consonant

→Nouns: gender and number

Gender and number of nouns

Genus: There are three genders in Russian: masculine, feminine and neuter. Each noun belongs to one of these genders: father, boy a body, wolf, oak, house- masculine nouns; mother, girl, piss a vest, fox, pine, school about la- feminine nouns animal, tree, wing, field, building, feeling- nouns of the middle gender.

In animate nouns, the gender has a real meaning, indicating belonging to the male or female sex. Inanimate nouns have no connection between the meaning of the noun and its gender (even nouns belonging to the same thematic group can have different genders: for example, in the names of the days of the week, nouns Monday, Tuesday, Thursday- male, Wednesdays a, Friday, Saturday about that- female, Sunday- neuter). Thus, for most nouns, the gender has a grammatical character and is determined by a formal feature - by endings in nominative case singular. Nouns that are used only in the plural have no gender (for example: spirit and, holidays, days).

Masculine nouns are nouns that end in:
a) into a hard consonant - house, table, world, city, view;

b) to a soft consonant (including and) - nail, fire, January, stream, hero;
c) on w, w, h, w(without soft sign) - knife, pencil, key, cape.

Some masculine nouns denoting males, as well as proper names of men (often diminutives), have the ending - and I (man, young man, uncle, Borya, Vanya, Sasha, Nikita).

Feminine nouns are nouns that end in:

a) on -a, -i, -ya — country, land, party;
b) into a soft consonant - spruce, bed, area;
c) on w, w, h, w(with soft sign) — rye, mouse, night, speech, help.

The neuter gender is nouns that end in:

a) on -o, -e, -e, -e - window, sea, towel, gun, skill;
b) on -me — vr e me,and me, banner, flame.

Thus, nouns of the middle gender are most easily distinguished. Masculine and feminine nouns have overlapping forms of the nominative case (on a soft consonant, on w, w, h, w); their gender is best remembered in accordance with the instructions of the dictionary.

We can name only a few auxiliary ways to determine gender:

• masculine and feminine nouns in w, w, h, w, coinciding in pronunciation, in writing differ in the presence of a soft sign after the final consonant in feminine nouns and in the absence of it in masculine nouns ( rye is a knife, night is a ball);

• all animate nouns with a suffix -tel- male ( writer, reader);

• all inanimate nouns with a suffix -awn- female ( youth,
  nationality, independence).

Morphologically, the gender of nouns is manifested in case endings, syntactically - in the form of agreement with adjectives, pronouns, participles, and verbs in the past tense, cf .: last e daysthe day, the day has passed(m.), last autumn, autumn has passed(and.), last e summer is gone, summer is gone(cf.).

Number: Nouns have two numbers: singular and plural ( book - books, table - tables, teacher - teachers).

Only in the singular some nouns are used denoting substances, materials ( milk, salt, gold), abstract concepts (study, walking,presence, courage), the names of some plants ( potatoes, carrots, onions, strawberries), names of the countries of the world, as well as proper names (south, from e ver, Moscow, Volga, Caucasus, France,Warsaw).

Only in plural nouns are used denoting the so-called paired or compound objects (pants, gates, scissors, glasses), names of some substances ( perfume, cream, ink).

• ← Gender and number of nouns→

Poet or poetess? And what is the correct name for a woman who works as a doctor, teacher or director? You say “headmistress of the school”, and the person will also be offended! And the thing is that this is a feature of our grammar that has appeared not so long ago - the alteration of words that were originally formed only in the masculine gender, under the female gender. Feminitives in the Russian language have not yet been worked out too deeply, but the language is developing, and this topic is undergoing changes along with it.

Deeper and more precise

Feminitives are neologisms that are not considered in too much detail in the rules of the language. In many ways, this phenomenon has yet to be formalized, subordinated to laws, and introduced into official language practice. Many say that one of the most important features of the phenomenon is a reflection of how many opportunities there are for the formation of new words in the language. To some extent, word-forming affixes demonstrate the richness of the grammar. Scientific materials devoted to this issue are heterogeneous, and the opinions of the authors differ significantly.

Currently, examples of feminists cause a lot of controversy in professional circles. Others are convinced that using such words is a sign of bad taste. There are also opinions that there is no point in raising such a question at all. Someone believes that the introduction of appropriate words into the language reflects the strengthening of the status of women in society, but there are those who are ready to argue with this opinion. An artist, an artist - is it so important to designate gender when the main idea is in essence, that is, the talent to draw pictures?

Is it necessary or not?

According to many, a man and a woman have equal rights, and this fact should be reflected in the language. It is important to enter language level the distinction between men and women, since androcentrism does not allow the fair sex to actively participate in social life. Restrictions are everywhere, even in the terminology used. A society that is naturally formed by men and women, due to the peculiarities of word formation, turns into a predominantly male society.

Some of the new feminitive words cause condemnation. Philologists explain this by the fact that people need time to get used to a new term, and over time, the practice of using such lexemes will become stable. But now neologisms seem to many to be rude, incorrect, they seem to cut the ear. But there are those who are convinced that new feminine words have already firmly entered our lives. Their sound has become familiar, it does not seem that they had to face something special. However, to this day there are lovers of traditions, for whom the new words of the feminine gender, accepted by the majority of society, seem alien and wrong.

Why is this needed?

Feminitives are not just a linguistic phenomenon, but a reflection in the language of women's desire to become visible, to be recognized as part of society. This is no less important in the framework of implementation in the labor field. Feminitives are one of the methods of displaying a woman through linguistic tools, allowing you to fight for gender equality and equal rights for all members of society. At the same time, the idea of ​​the feminitive reflects the desire of the grammar of any language to simplify.

The use of neologisms makes it possible to bypass ugly constructions when the term is masculine, and the verb, adjective convey belonging to the female gender. To avoid an unsound phrase, a feminist could come to the rescue. “Doctor Sergeeva came on shift” - you must admit, it sounds illogical. Doctor is a word that must be followed by a masculine noun. Of course, you can find a way out of the situation and indicate “a female doctor”, but the perception of such phrases is quite difficult, so it is unlikely to take root in real speech. The best way out is feminists.

How to do it?

Creating a new word is not easy. Not everyone will be able to formulate it sonorously and correctly. For example, this is how the word “doctor” appeared, rude, negative - it was created not as part of a constructive idea of ​​reflecting gender equality, but as an attempt to belittle a person.

Feminitives are words that should be formed taking into account linguistic logic by a person with linguistic intuition. The result should be productive, sound good. It is important that feminitives correspond to the patterns of word formation that are characteristic of the language.

What to use?

The main tool that helps to create a feminitive is a suffix. Currently, it is customary to talk about productive and unproductive. The first category includes those that in the current period in our language are used quite actively to form words. Classic options: -ka, -nitsa, -yin and the like.

It is customary to refer to unproductive elements -iha, -ya, -i (es) ca, - sha. It is also possible to use such in language practice, but the result will have a slightly different shade.

-ka

This suffix can be safely called one of the most frequently used, especially if we take into account the logic of our language. It is through him that almost all currently applicable feminitives are formed.

Often, ordinary people perceive words with such an addition negatively, believing that the suffix gives them a derogatory connotation. Linguists explain this by similarities with the specific slang that exists at school, because the first such neologism that most people think of is “teacher”. This forms a negative pattern for this category of feminists. In reality, the suffix has no marking, including negative connotations. It is ambiguous, belongs to the category of productive, you can safely resort to it in different situations. Returning to the above example about doctors: in the modern literary language there is the word "medical", which can be used as a normative one.

-itsa

Such feminitives are not very widespread, and the most characteristic manifestation observed in the language at the present time is “kotitsa / kitties”. It can be explained as follows: it is now quite common to refer to a friendly audience as “cats”, but this word has a clear gender. Since sometimes we are talking about the female half, it was necessary to choose an adequate term that would fit into the logic of the language, sound correctly and reflect the semantic load that is not directly related to representatives of the animal world.

But if you need to say about the female animal, then they use a completely normative word for her - a cat. It is not a neologism, has nothing to do with feminists and is not used as a tool to achieve gender equality in society.

-nitsa

This suffix is ​​one of the most commonly used. Feminitives formed with his help appeared in the language a long time ago, therefore they are familiar to most modern people. Surprisingly, the suffix did not always mean exactly what it is currently used for. For example, a woman who teaches at a school will be called a “teacher”, and in the old days, the suffix simply denoted the belonging of a man of the corresponding specialty due to marital relations. For example, the “colonel” was not called the one who had service merit, but only the wife of the colonel.

The change in the social structure could not but be reflected in the language, and the words in -nitsa became independent. Now they are used to describe a woman in herself, and not to characterize a man through her. A colonel can only be called one who herself occupies the corresponding post. However, the word is exclusively colloquial. If you need to draw up an official document, you will have to use "colonel", "teacher". Perhaps, over time, the feminitives of this group will enter the language as official, independent, literary, normative words, but so far this has not happened.

-h(sh)itsa

For the Russian language, this suffix is ​​quite typical and characteristic, and the feminitives formed with its use seem logical and acceptable for everyday speech. Others, however, believe that such an increase gives a shade of derision, disrespect. Currently, the method of word formation is quite widely used both in writing and in conversation.

-yin

You can often find this suffix when talking about the type of activity, profession, the name of which comes from the ancient Greek language. If the ending of the word is -log, then the designation of belonging to the female sex will most often be made through the suffix -yin.

The specified suffix is ​​quite typical for the scientific environment, the medical field. The point of view of some linguists is that the formation of feminitives in the future through -yin will be the most characteristic option for the specified type of words, as well as those similar to them. For example, “duchess”, “princess”, although they have nothing to do with scientific activity or medical activity, they are formed according to the same logic. These words seem harmonious, acceptable, and according to many, the method of word formation is the future in which the language will be a reflection of equality.

-isa

This suffix is ​​a classic representative of the unproductive group. Currently, it is used very little and in narrow circles. Linguists have been arguing for a long time about what semantic load the suffix conveys. Some believe that the appeal, and the classic example would be the word "headmistress". There are also opponents of such an idea, who explain that in this particular case, negative emotional coloring is associated with a specific atmosphere at school and has nothing to do with the suffix as a word-formation tool. Some promote the “director” option as the most productive, positive, without negative connotations.

-essa

In modern Russian, this suffix is ​​rarely used. In general, its use gives the word an elevated connotation, changing the style of speech. This type of words is characterized by a somewhat atypical pronunciation for the Russian language. Before [e], the consonant sounds hard. That's what the word "poetess" is.

-iha

This method of word formation results in a rather simple-sounding, rude word. In the old days, the variant was used to refer to a woman whose husband has a certain profession, and it was used only in colloquial, simple speech. For example, a colonel's wife could easily be called a colonel's wife, but not to the eye - otherwise the lady would be offended. An alternative use of this method of creating neologisms is to indicate a woman's belonging to a certain profession. From here came the words "weavers" and the like. The modern Russian language is distinguished by a negative assessment of words formed using this suffix. Neologisms designed to strengthen the position of a woman in society are not created with its use.

-sha

Like the method described above, this suffix results in a word that sounds extremely dissonant to a modern Russian person. In the old days, it was applied to women whose husbands had some profession. Currently, this practice has not been preserved, it is considered an obsolete form. In dictionaries, words formed through this suffix are marked as colloquial. They should not be used in normative speech or simple colloquial, without fear of offending the interlocutor.

Feminitives in -sha exist, although they are very few. This is more the exception than the rule. Such words have never been used to denote the belonging of a woman to a certain man. So, the literary prehistory of the formation of the feminitive “musician” is quite interesting, which can now be freely used. Also, the word "librarian" does not carry an offensive connotation. From the point of view of a number of linguists, it is necessary to use the variant "librarian", but in a real language the first one has taken root much better. However, some philologists say that "librarian" is the very word that balances on the verge between colloquial language and neutral. But the word "giantess" is known to everyone, it is quite widespread, often found in literary works and can be used in normal speech. It does not acquire any negative connotation due to the suffix.

But the word "captain" is somewhat different from the others, formed through the same suffix. It is impossible to form a feminitive for him using the classical addition -ka, since the captain is the name of the headdress. According to some linguists, it would be correct to use the suffix -essa, which would result in "captainess". However, alive colloquial exists according to its own rules, and if you ask the layman about how he would call the captain's wife or the woman who controls the ship, the answer will be the same - "captain".

The last two considered suffixes have much in common. They are characterized by a strong colloquial overtones. The three main meanings of these suffixes are:

• belonging of the object to the female gender;
• a marker of neglect;
• designation of a colloquial expression.

-ya

From the point of view, such a suffix is ​​neutral. Its only meaning is the designation of the object belonging to the female gender. There is a well-established practice of adding such a suffix to those words whose stem ends in -un.

Traditions: it's time to change

Centuries ago, each gender had distinct roles that were not passed on from one to the other. Now life has changed quite a lot, this division is a thing of the past. People are faced with the need to maintain new tools for indicating the gender of the object in question. At the same time, it is important to be able to convey the characteristic in an adequate, neutral way, without resorting to derogatory, derisive suffixes. A woman strives for equal rights - and this is completely reasonable and natural. Providing privileges as essential as men in all areas of life is not only wages and employment opportunities, but also the correct terminology, respectful attitude, recognition of human capabilities, regardless of gender.

Feminitives are neologisms, at least at the current moment in the development of the language. Many linguists, as well as social development specialists, assume that such words will soon become normative, familiar to the general public, and used in a variety of situations. It is important to form them taking into account linguistic logic, in accordance with the word formation patterns characteristic of the Russian language, and then the result will be really good - this will give useful words, due to which the language will be gender sensitive.

1. If the 1st declension includes feminine and masculine nouns with endings in -а or -я, then in what chain are these words? A. B

literature, in an article, before history, in a man. B. Without a manuscript, near the square, among young people, from the mother.

2. If the 2nd declension includes masculine nouns with a zero ending and neuter nouns, then in what chain are these words?

A. Catalogue, study, day

B. Furniture, shade, role

3. Specify the names of nouns of the 3rd declension.

A. Love, sorrow, fidelity

B. Guest, leader, horse

4. Indicate nouns that have only the singular form.

A. rose, aster, tulip

B. Sorrel, cotton, beets.

5. What form do collective nouns have?

A. The form of only a single chill.

B. Uniform only plural

6. Noun Droshky only has a plural form, because..... . Choose an explanation.

A. Is abstract.

B. Is real

7. Indicate inconsistent nouns.

A. with desire

B. over time

V. with a name

A. above the flame

B. above the banner

B. above the building

1. Emphasize the following words: Joiner, teenage, ease, force, agent, nap, minus. 2. Choose synonyms for words (according to

2-3 examples): Bulky, pointless, unique, embarrassed, vain. 3. Indicate the morphemic composition of the words: Harmless, jumped out, victorious, load, firmly. 4. Decline: Someone, 12.495. 5. Determine the number of nouns (singular, plural, only singular, only plural): West, painting, child, people, canned food, gates, degrees, childhood, ravine. 6. Expand the brackets, select the desired form: 1. On the personal (account, account) of many employees, there is a significant overfulfillment of the plan. 2. The plane landed at (airport, airport) 3. A volumetric hardening department (rails, rails) was built at the plant. 4. The base shipped four tons (tomatoes, tomatoes) to the store. 5. Two hundred sets of blankets, pillowcases and (sheets, sheets) were donated to the hospital 7. Decline the singular and plural nouns. In all forms, place the stress: Fine, language, stamp, speed. 8. From these adjectives of the full form, form the short form of the masculine, feminine, neuter gender and the plural form. In all forms, emphasize: Good, pear, bad, light. 9. Form the genitive form from these plural nouns. Select endings. Minxes, amps, rails, potions, cells, apprentices.

Find phrases in which words are linked by agreement: A) Blue sky, green grass. B) It blew cold, traces of stars

C) Portrait of a man, mother's letter

D) Mom and daughter, complete the letter.

E) Worked tirelessly, went to study

This noun has only a plural form.

Find the verb in the sentences imperative mood:

a) The wounded man was lying on his back.

b) The brothers are very similar to each other.

C) I would have learned my lesson if I hadn't been lazy.

D) Complete the task without errors.

E) Worked tirelessly, trying to be on time.

Indicate the part of speech that is not independent:

A) pronoun

B) verb.

C) Adverb.

D) Communion.

Specify the perfective verb:

E) danced

Determine the gender of the noun "crybaby":

A) Feminine.

B) Neutral gender

C) Masculine

D) Common gender

E) Has no gender

Specify an indirect question:

A) She asked her friend if she had written an essay.

C) The duty officer reported the missing.

C) What happened to you, friends?

D) I said I like flowers, but not like this.

E) She interrupted me, saying it was none of my business.

Indicate the word from which the participle can be formed:

A) love

B) joy

C) happiness

D) Desire

E) Kindness

The cardinal numeral is in the nominative case:

A) Bought one and a half meters of silk.

C) You can’t make four out of three minutes.

C) At two anchors, the ship holds on tighter.

D) One hundred pages of text are already ready.

E) The car has reached the speed of one hundred kilometers per hour

HELP ME PLEASE! URGENTLY!

1. Find an extra word.
a) highway
b) taxi
c) salami
d) pince-nez
2. Find the extra word
a) Baku
b) pony
c) coffee
d) manto
3. Mark the feminine nouns.
a) banjo
b) peri
c) ranch
d) iwashi
4. Mark the feminine nouns.
a) kohlrabi
b) referee
c) veil
d) aloe
5. Mark feminine nouns
a) shampoo
b) corn
c) mole
d) report card
6. Mark the nouns of the masculine gender.
a) tulle
b) only
c) vermicelli
d) wormwood
7. Mark the neuter nouns
a) bra
b) bourgeois
c) bully
d) purse
8. Mark the neuter nouns.
a) neckline
b) Frau
c) bureau
d) foyer
9. Mark the nouns of the masculine gender
a) dandy
b) vanilla
In the underground
d) resume
10. Mark the nouns of the masculine gender
a) tulle
b) stew
c) corn
d) braggart
11. Mark the nouns of the middle gender
a) shoe
b) mind
c) town
d) log
12. Mark the nouns related to the common gender
a) an alibi
b) counterpart
c) crybaby
d) suluguni
13. Mark the nouns related to the general gender
a) jury
b) attache
c) protégé
d) crybaby
14. Mark the feminine nouns
a) ATC
b) research institute
c) UN
d) Moscow State University
15. Mark the masculine nouns
a) computer
b) Foreign Ministry
c) hydroelectric power station
d) APU