Straniere

Straniere is the feminine plural form of straniera, meaning foreign woman, and can also be the feminine plural form of the adjective straniero, meaning foreign. The term refers to women who are not Italian citizens or residents, or who come from other countries. In Italian, masculine forms are straniero (singular), stranieri (plural); straniera and straniere are used for female subjects or feminine nouns.

Etymology and morphology: The word derives from the broader Italian root related to foreign or alien, with straniera forming in the feminine and straniero in the masculine. The plural straniere is used for both the noun (foreign women) and the adjective when it modifies a feminine plural noun, such as lingue straniere (foreign languages) or cittadine straniere (foreign citizens, feminine).

Usage and examples: As a noun, le straniere refers to foreign women, for example: “Le straniere che hanno visitato la città hanno apprezzato l’arte.” As an adjective, straniere agrees with a feminine plural noun, for instance: “lingue straniere” (foreign languages) or “cittadine straniere” (foreign female citizens). The masculine equivalents are stranieri for a group of men or a mixed group, and straniero for a singular male.

Notes: Straniere is a standard, neutral term in Italian. Like any designation tied to nationality or origin, its appropriateness depends on context and tone. It is not a proper noun and is normally written without capital letters.

See also: straniera, straniero, stranieri, lingue straniere, cittadini stranieri, immigrant terminology.