Nationality adjectives always require a capital letter.
Nationality for people can remain the same or they can change. If the nationality
adjective ends in –sh, -ch, -ese the word referring
to the generic plural remains the same:
• English > The English
• French > The French
However, when referring to the specific singular –man, -woman,
-person etc plural must be added:
• A Frenchwoman, A Dutchman
If the adjective ends in –an, -s is added to refer to the generic plural:
• Italian > The Italians [Learn more about the traditions, heritage and way of life that make Italians who they are.]
• Roman > The Romans
The form of the adjective also renders the specific singular:
• The Germans > A German
• The Albanians > An Albanian
Exceptions
• Scottish (scozzese) > The Scots (gli scozzesi nel senso della popolazione scozzese)> A Scot (l’abitante della Scozia)
• British > The British > A Briton [Brit esp. US English]
• Swedish > The Swedes > A Swede
• Spanish > The Spanish > A Spaniard
Exercise
Write the noun and adjective of nationality for each country:
• Ireland > Ireshman, Irish
• Russia
• Finland
• Israel
• Lebanon
• Greece
• Holland
• Thailand
• Iraq
• Afghanistan
• Norway
• Wales