Most Italian adjectives have to agree with the nouns they describe in terms of number and gender.

Some adjectives have four forms – masculine singular, feminine singular, masculine plural & feminine plural. These appear in the dictionary in the masculine singular form ending in o. Here is an example using the adjective rosso – red:

• masculine singular – rosso
• il vino rosso – red wine

• feminine singular – rossa
• una gonna rossa – a red dress

• masculine plural – rossi
• i capelli rossi – red hair

• feminine plural – rosse
• le camicie rosse – the red shirts

Others have just two forms – masculine & feminine singular and masculine & feminine plural. These appear in the dictionary in the masculine / feminine singular form ending in e. Here is an example using the adjective verde – green:

• masculine singular – verde
• il picchio verde – green woodpecker

• feminine singular – verde
• la cravatta verde – green tie

• masculine plural – verdi
• gli occhi verdi – green eyes

• feminine plural – verdi
• le zone verdi – green belt

Finally, some adjectives are invariable, they only have one form. These do not change to agree with the noun. The example used this time is again a colour, this time blu – blue:

• masculine singular – blu
• una matita blu – a blue pencil

• feminine singular – blu
• una cintura blu – a blue belt

• masculine plural – blu
• i occhi blu – blue eyes

• feminine plural – blu
• le gonne blu – blue skirts

Many colours are invariable adjectives including the following; blu – blue, rosa – pink, viola – violet / purple, lilla – lilac, beige – beige.