Principiante or principianta

Question

Is the feminine form for beginner principiante or principianta. If principianta is correct, are there many other words that end in -e for the masculine form and change to -a for feminine?

"principianta" is completely wrong :) - maestroantonio, Dec 7, 2012

Principianta does exist in the dictionary. Check out this link: http://lema.rae.es/drae/?val=principianta - francobollo, Dec 7, 2012

I remember now... that's a recent change made by RAE by accepting "principianta" however that sounds "fool", people would laugh of somebody saying that. - maestroantonio, Dec 7, 2012

" Existe también el femenino principianta, más propio del habla coloquial o popular, poco usado en el nivel culto" - maestroantonio, Dec 7, 2012

So I'd add "...completely wrong if you want to talk a suitable Spanish". :P - maestroantonio, Dec 7, 2012

Answer 1

Y ahora también es válido decir "aprendiza" ver definición

Jamás las usaré en mi vocabulario.

A mi también me cuesta mucho adaptarme, pero jueza, ingeniera y principianta las escucho cada vez más. Es el derecho de las mujeres a ejercer su postura en la sociedad, según parece. - francobollo, Dec 7, 2012

Answer 2

One exception is the word "jefe", the feminine form of which is "jefa".

Principianta does exist in the dictionary. Check out this link: http://lema.rae.es/drae/?val=principianta - francobollo, Dec 7, 2012

Answer 3

I believe this one ends in -e for either gender, (but am not sure) with the only way to determine gender being the article un/el principiante, vs una/la principiante.

I know the similar word, dependiente is an exception, thus my own confusion.

el dependiente, la dependienta.

I want to hear what the experts say too.

Thanks, I actually found an earlier thread about it (after I posted the question). It seems to be in the dictionary, but not widely used. - jthomas29, Dec 7, 2012

Dependienta is also correct. Check out this link: http://lema.rae.es/drae/?val=dependienta - francobollo, Dec 7, 2012

Answer 4

1. La participante
2. El participante

I'm sorry because I made a mistake. Then I'd say:

1. El principiante
2. La principiante

I disagree with RAE because it's unacceptable to add a word as valid just because illetrated people use it frequently... in that case it would be hundreds of wrong words to accept as valids.

Principianta does exist in the dictionary. Check out this link: http://lema.rae.es/drae/?val=principianta - francobollo, Dec 7, 2012

Sorry, I messed up participante and principiante - maestroantonio, Dec 7, 2012

Answer 5

Presidente. Presidenta. The feminine form has recently become acceptable.

Answer 6

Participante is a masculine and feminine noun although some dictionaries show ii as masculine. My pocket size Random House dictionary lists it as m & f. This word is like other masculino y feminino palabras como agente, estudiante, paciente. Can you think of others?

Answer 7

From Real Academia de la Lengua Española:

principianta.

(De principiante).

1. f. Aprendiza de cualquier arte u oficio.

Real Academia Española © Todos los derechos reservados

Thanks for the links above. As far as usage goes, do you feel it is not commonly used? - jthomas29, Dec 7, 2012

I am beginning to use female professions more often. La jefa, la depedienta, la cantora, la ejecutiva, la presidenta, la ministra, la jueza. - francobollo, Dec 7, 2012

Gracias por la observación, Pancho Bollo ;) - maestroantonio, Dec 7, 2012

I hate how all those sound. It's totally wrong to me. - DualG, Dec 7, 2012