Editing Shilha language (section)

==== Semantics of feminine nouns ====
The formation of feminine nouns from masculine nouns is a productive process. A feminine noun is formed by adding both the feminine nominal prefix {{Lang|shi-latn|t-}} (and, if necessary, a vocalic prefix), and the feminine singular suffix {{Lang|shi-latn|-t}} to a masculine noun. The semantic value of the feminine derivation is variable.

For many nouns referring to male and female humans or animals (mainly larger mammals), matching masculine and feminine forms exist with the same nominal stem, reflecting the sex of the referent:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|adgal}} "widower" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tadgalt}} "widow"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|amuslm}} "Muslim" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tamuslmt}} "Muslima"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ikni}} "twin boy" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tiknit}} "twin girl"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|afullus}} "cock, rooster" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tafullust}} "hen"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|izm}} "lion" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tizmt}} "lioness"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|udad}} "moufflon" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tudatt}} "female moufflon"
In a few cases there are suppletive forms:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|argaz}} "man, husband" ― {{Lang|shi-latn|tamɣart}} "woman, wife"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ankkur}} "buck" ― {{Lang|shi-latn|taɣaṭṭ}} "goat"
Feminine nouns derived from masculine nouns with inanimate reference have diminutive meaning:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|aẓru}} "stone" → {{Lang|shi-latn|taẓrut}} "small stone"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ifri}} "cave" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tifrit}} "hole, lair"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|lbit}} "room" → {{Lang|shi-latn|talbitt}} "small room"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ṣṣnduq}} "box" → {{Lang|shi-latn|taṣṣnduqt}} "little box"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|urti}} "garden" → {{Lang|shi-latn|turtit}} "small garden"
Conversely, a masculine noun derived from a feminine noun has augmentative meaning:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|tamda}} "lake" → {{Lang|shi-latn|amda}} "large lake"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|tigmmi}} "house" → {{Lang|shi-latn|igmmi}} "large house"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|tiznirt}} "fan palm" → {{Lang|shi-latn|iznir}} "large fan palm"
Feminine nouns derived from masculine collective nouns have singulative meaning:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|asngar}} "maize" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tasngart}} "a cob"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|iﬁfl}} "peppers" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tiﬁflt}} "a pepper"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|bitljan}} "aubergines" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tabitljant}} "an aubergine"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|luqid}} "matches" → {{Lang|shi-latn|taluqitt}} "a match"
Feminine derivations are also used as names of languages, professions and activities:
: {{Lang|shi-latn|ahulandiy}} "Dutchman" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tahulandiyt}} "the Dutch language"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|fransis}} "the French" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tafransist}} "the French language"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|amzil}} "blacksmith" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tamzilt}} "blacksmith's profession"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|inmmtri}} "beggar" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tinmmtrit}} "begging"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|lmumsik}} "miser" → {{Lang|shi-latn|talmumsikt}} "avarice"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|g°ma}} "(my) brother" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tag°mat}} "brotherhood"
There is an overlap here with feminine nouns denoting females:
: {{Lang|shi-latn|tafransist}} "Frenchwoman" and "the French language"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|tinmmtrit}} "beggarwoman" and "begging"