Il cane, lo zio, l’amico… What is the exact rule of the articles in Italian? Let’s learn everything about the definite and indefinite article together!
To learn the articles, we start with a little quiz. Observe how the articles behave… can you guess the rule?
IL gatto, IL pesce
LO scoiattolo
L’orso
LA maschera
L’acqua
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1. Question
Completa la regola:
MASCHILE
Sort elements
il
lo
l'
prima di una consonante
prima di s + consonante, gn, ps, x, y, z
prima di una vocale
Correct
Eccellente!
Incorrect
peccato 🙁
Question 2 of 2
2. Question
Completa la regola:
Femminile
Sort elements
la
l'
Prima di una consonante
Prima di una vocale
Correct
Yeah!
Incorrect
Uffa 🙁
The definite article
The definite article is used – as in English – to refer back to something known or already mentioned. In Italian, nouns and articles have two genders, masculine (male) and feminine (female) and they can be either singular or plural. For the articles it is also important to see which is the first letter of the following word. Have a look at the table with the rules and the sample words!
Masculine
Singular
Plural
before consonant
il cane the dog
i cani the dogs
before vowel
l’orso the bear
gli orsi the bears
before s+consonant before z before y before x before gn before ps
lo scoiattolo the squirrel lo zio the uncle lo yogurt the yoghurt lo xenofobo the xenophobe lo gnomo the gnome, dwarf lo psicologo the psychologist
gli scoiattoli the squirrels gli zii the uncles gli yogurt the yoghurts gli xenofobi the xenophobes gli gnomi the gnomes, dwarfs gli psicologi the psychologists
Feminine
Singular
Plural
before consonant
la mucca the cow
le mucche the cows
before vowel
l’amica the (female) friend
le amiche the (female) friends
Il giro in bici the bicycle tour: il cane the dog, il guinzaglio the leash, la bicicletta the bicycle Cody: “Yay!”
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1. Question
Collega la parola all’articolo giusto.
Sort elements
bambino
mamma
yogurt
albergo
il
la
lo
l'
Correct
Fantastico!
Incorrect
Oh no 🙁
Question 2 of 2
2. Question
Inserisci l’articolo giusto.
(la) famiglia > (le) famiglie
(il) museo > (i) musei
(il) libro > (i) libri
(l') amico > (gli) amici
(l') amica > (le) amiche
(la) foto > (le) foto
(lo) stivale > (gli) stivali
(l') isola > (le) isole
(la) città > (le) città
(lo) scoiattolo > (gli) scoiattoli
Correct
Eccezionale!
Incorrect
Argh
The indefinite article
The indefinite article is used when things or people are mentioned for the first time. Indefinite articles exist only in the singular and they have different forms depending on gender and the first letter of the following word, like the definite articles.
Masculine
Feminine
before consonant
un cane adog
una mucca a cow
before vowel
unorso a bear
un’amica a (female) friend
before s+consonant before z before y before x before gn before ps
uno scoiattolo a squirrel uno zio an uncle uno yogurt ayoghurt uno xenofobo a xenophobe uno gnomo agnome, dwarf uno psicologo apsychologist
–
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definite article: IL + consonant* indefinite article: UN + consonant*
This is a cat. That's a very funny cat. This is a hedgehog. The hedgehog is in love. This is a cookie. The cookie is delicious!
*With exceptions, see following.
definite article: LO + gn, ps, x, y, z, s+consonant indefinite article: UN + gn, ps, x, y, z, s+consonant
This is a gnome. The gnome says hello. This is a squirrel. The squirrel is trembling. This is a backpack. It's a very roomy backpack.
Pronunciation: gnomo [ˈɲɔmo], <gn> is pronounced like the Spanish ñ.
definite article: LA + consonant indefinite article: UNA + consonant
This is a sock. The sock is red and yellow. This is a cow. The cow is mooing. This is a pumpkin. The pumpkin is a little sad.
Masculine: L' / UN + vowel Feminine: L' / UN' + vowel
Feminine: This is a bee. The bee is flying happy. Masculine: This is a bear. The bear is fast asleep. Masculine: This is a Christmas tree. The Christmas tree is decorated with many colorful baubles.
extra vocabulary la stella star lo scoiattolo squirrel la pallina di Natale Christmas bauble
Kira and Cody are at the fruit seller. "So much fruit!" exclaims Kira gaping. Kira really likes watermelon and melon. Cody in turn takes a peach, an apricot, an orange and a tangerine. Ah, and he also takes the lemon and the ginger. There are also many exotic fruits! Kira buys the mango, the pineapple, the pomegranate, the avocado and the papaya. "Tonight we'll make a smoothie!"
vocabulary il fruttivendolo fruit seller la frutta fruit l'anguria (f.) watermelon il melone melon la pesca peach l'albicocca (f.) apricot l'arancia (f.) orange il mandarino tangerine il limone lemon lo zenzero ginger il mango mango l'ananas pineapple il melograno pomegranate l'avocado (m.) avocado la papaya papaya il frullato smoothie
Masculine Esercizio: What article?
Solutions lo / uno gnomo gnome lo / uno zaino backpack lo / uno zenzero ginger la / una volpe fox la / una mela apple l' / un elefante (m.) elephant il / un miele honey lo / uno sport sport lo / uno yogurt yoghurt il / un ragno spider la / una ciliegia cherry il / un serpente snake lo / uno scoiattolo squirrel l' / un' anatra (f.) duck lo / uno zio uncle lo / uno zoo zoo l' / un' aquila (f.) eagle
Prossima lezione: Subject pronouns and polite form