־ית

־ית • (-ít) f (plural ־יות‎)

1. For masculine singular adjectives in ־י‎ (-í), replacing that ending to produce feminine singular forms.

   ‎בְּעָיָתִי‎ (“problematic m sg”) + ‎־ית → ‎בְּעָיָתִית‎ (ba'ayatít, “problematic f sg”)

   צרפתי‎ ‎→ צרפתית‎ (tsarfatít, “French”)

2. Appended to certain masculine nouns denoting men, forming feminine counterparts denoting women or females.

   מֶלְצַר‎ ‎→ מֶלְצָרִית‎ (miltsarít, “waitress”)

3. Appended to certain masculine nouns denoting large items, forming feminine counterparts denoting corresponding small items.

   שַׂק‎ (“big bag”) ‎→ שׂקִּית‎ (sakít, “small bag”)

4. Forming proper nouns denoting languages (identical to feminine singular adjectives).

   צרפתית‎ (tsarfatít, “French”)

5. Forming female given names; especially, appended to male given names to form female counterparts.

   דּוֹר‎ (“Dor”) ‎→ דּוֹרִית‎ (“Dorit”)

6. Forming words describing vehicles.

   ‎מַשָּׂא‎ (masá, “cargo”) + ‎־ית → ‎מַשָּׂאִית‎ (masa'ít, “truck”)

   ‎חָלָל‎ (khalál, “space”) + ‎־ית → ‎חֲלָלִית‎ (khalalít, “spaceship”)

• (forming feminine counterparts denoting females): ־ת‎ (-et), ־ה‎ (-ah)