Question about article 'le' and feminine plural
Hello all,

I am reading an italian grammatic book and I saw that the article 'le' is used specifically for the feminine plural.

By example :
la mamma(singular) -- le mamme(plural)
l'aranciata(singular) -- le aranciate(plural)

But later in the book I can see an example: il ginocchio/le ginocchia

I dont understand why "le ginocchia" as ginochio is masculine and it should be the article 'i' in front.

Does it mean that 'le' is not only used for feminine plural ? Or "le ginocchia" is an exception ?

Thanks in advance,

Question

Question about article 'le' and feminine plural
Hello all,

I am reading an italian grammatic book and I saw that the article 'le' is used specifically for the feminine plural.

By example : 
la mamma(singular) --> le mamme(plural)
l'aranciata(singular) --> le aranciate(plural) 

But later in the book I can see an example: il ginocchio/le ginocchia

I dont understand why "le ginocchia" as ginochio is masculine and it should be the article 'i' in front.

Does it mean that 'le' is not only used for feminine plural ? Or "le ginocchia" is an exception ?

Thanks in advance,

Answer

besides "ginocchio" I can remind me these cases:
il dito --> le dita
il labbro --> le labbra
il braccio --> le braccia
l'orecchio (lo orecchio) --> le orecchie
il membro --> le membra (referred to the parts of the body as legs and arms, i.e.: "ha camminato tanto e adesso sente dolore alle membra" ----- instead we can also have another plural of "il membro" which is "i membri" but in this case it is referred to the something/someone which/who take part of a group, i.e.: "i membri del parlamento")
l'uovo (lo uovo) --> le uova

Answer

"Ginocchio" is an exception. It is masculine in the singular and feminine in the plural! Just one of those things you have to learn :-).
I can't think of any other examples right now, but maybe someone else will.