ità

ità is a productive feminine suffix in Italian used to form abstract nouns that express quality, state, or condition. It corresponds to the English suffix -ity or -ty. The ending is written as -ità, with the final a carrying an accent in many words (for example diversità, velocità, realtà).

The suffix derives from Latin -itas, -itatis and has been integrated into Italian through the Romance linguistic development. It is attached to adjectives and, less commonly, to other bases to produce nouns that denote the abstract concept named by the base: velocità (speed), facilità (ease or facility), diversità (diversity), stabilità (stability), realtà (reality), qualità (quality).

Usage notes include that words ending in -ità are feminine and typically refer to abstract qualities or conditions. They can function as countable or uncountable nouns depending on context, and many form plural in regular Italian usage, while others remain largely uncountable.

Examples of common -ità nouns include velocità, diversità, facilità, realtà, stabilità, quantità, qualità and identità. These nouns often appear in formal or technical language, but they are also widespread in everyday speech.

In summary, -ità is a central Italian suffix for turning adjectives into abstract, feminine nouns that express various qualities, states, or quantities. It reflects a Latin heritage and remains a productive part of modern Italian morphology.