In Italian, articles accompany nouns and indicate whether they are a) masculine or feminine (gender) and b) singular or plural (number). In Italian grammar, there is a definite article (I, Luo, This, I’, A generation, This, This) and the indefinite article (and, One, one, and’) .
In this article, you will learn the difference between Italian definite and indefinite articles and when to use them correctly. let us begin!
Italian definite article
A definite article is a determiner that “denotes that the noun refers to a specific thing or something that has been previously identified.” resource: thesaurus In English there is only one definite article – ‘This‘—and in Italian, there are seven.
In order to decide which definite article to use, you first need to figure out three things:
a) the first letter of the noun it modifies
b) the gender of that noun
c) whether the noun is singular or plural
Italian singular definite article
I – masculine singular definite article
This article is used for any singular masculine noun certainly not Begins with a vowel z, s + another consonant gn, pn, ps, x or y.
- This book = This book
- train = train
- ocean = ocean
- child = boy
Luo – masculine singular definite article
This article is used for any singular masculine noun Do Begins with z, s + another consonant, gn, pn, ps, x or y.
- Backpack = Backpack
- stool = stool
- xylophone = xylophone
- what a midget = dwarf
This – Feminine singular definite article
This article is used for any feminine singular noun that does not start with a vowel.
- Chair = Chair
- Box = Box
- on television = television
- child = the girl
I’ – Masculine and feminine singular definite articles
This article is used for any singular masculine or feminine noun that begins with a vowel.
- that tree = that tree (male)
- ape = bee (female)
- Elephant = Elephant (male)
- crazy = Goose (female)
plural definite articles in italian
A generation – masculine plural definite article
This article is for any plural masculine noun certainly not Begins with a vowel z, s + another consonant gn, pn, ps, x or y.
- books = books
- Pillow = cushion
- table = table
- dads = dads
This – masculine plural definite article
This article is used for any singular masculine noun Do Begins with a vowel z, s + another consonant gn, pn, ps, x or y.
- uncle = uncles
- friends = friends
- Backpack = Backpack
- Gnocchi* = dumpling
*notes: In spoken Italian, depending on the region, you may hear different articles for certain words.One of the best examples is dumplingtechnically should be Luo and plural This. But, you can hear Italians say I and A generation Instead, the most famous is the idiom Laugh, laugh mom makes dumplings! (Light up. Laugh, laugh, because mom made gnocchi!).
That said, you shouldn’t worry too much about it. The best thing for learners is to follow the official grammar rules.
This – Feminine plural definite article
This article is for any singular feminine noun.
- and body = apple
- zebra = zebra
- Windows = window
- friends = (female) friend
indefinite article in italian
The indefinite article is a determiner, “to refer to a noun without specifying it or to refer to a noun to introduce it for the first time”. resource: thesaurus In English, there are two indefinite articles – ‘One‘ and ‘One‘—and in Italian, there are four.
The article you use depends on several factors: the first letter of the noun it modifies, and the gender of that noun.
and – masculine singular indefinite article
This article is used for any singular masculine noun certainly not Begins with z, s + another consonant, gn, pn, ps, x or y.
- a tree = a tree
- a book = a book
- a sofa = a sofa
- a friend = a (male) friend
one – masculine singular indefinite article
This article is used for any singular masculine noun Do Begins with z, s + another consonant, gn, pn, ps, x or y.
- a school bag = a backpack
- a yo-yo = Yo-Yo
- a mistake = a mistake
- psychologist = physiologist
One – Feminine singular indefinite article
This article is used for any singular feminine noun certainly not Start with a vowel.
- zebra = zebra
- a chair = a chair
- a car = car/machine
- a bottle = a bottle
and’ – Feminine singular indefinite article
This article is used for any singular feminine noun Do Start with a vowel.
- a friend = a (female) friend
- a goose = a goose
- once = an era
- an island = an island
What about plural indefinite articles? Quite simply, they don’t exist! Instead, Italians use the partial article: of, of, of, of, of and of.
- some bread = (some bread
- some sugar = (some sugar
- some bacon = (some) bacon
- some beans = (some) beans
- some friends = (some friends
- some friends = (some) female friends