Definite Articles

01

Masculine Articles

Masculine nouns use different articles depending on their first letter or sound.

Singular Masculine Forms

• Use il before nouns that start with most consonants.

• Il ragazzo mangia.

  The boy is eating.

• Ho letto il libro.

  I have read the book.

• Use lo before nouns that start with s + consonant (like st, sp), z, gn, ps, x, or y.

• Lo studente è intelligente.

  The student is intelligent.

• Prendo lo zaino.

  I'm taking the backpack.

• Lo psicologo ascolta.

  The psychologist listens.

• Use l' (an elision of lo) before nouns that start with a vowel.

• L'amico italiano è simpatico.

  The Italian friend is nice.

• L'orologio è nuovo.

  The watch is new.

Plural Masculine Forms

The plural article depends on the singular form used.

• Nouns that use il in the singular use i in the plural.

• I ragazzi mangiano.

  The boys are eating.

• Ho letto i libri.

  I have read the books.

• Nouns that use lo or l' in the singular use gli in the plural.

• Gli studenti sono intelligenti.

  The students are intelligent.

• Gli amici italiani sono simpatici.

  The Italian friends are nice.

• Gli orologi sono nuovi.

  The watches are new.

02

Feminine Articles

Feminine articles have simpler rules than masculine ones.

Singular Feminine Forms

• Use la before nouns that start with any consonant.

• La ragazza legge.

  The girl is reading.

• La casa è grande.

  The house is big.

• Use l' (an elision of la) before nouns that start with a vowel.

• L'amica spagnola è qui.

  The Spanish friend is here.

• L'idea è interessante.

  The idea is interesting.

Plural Feminine Forms

All feminine nouns, regardless of their starting letter, use the article le in the plural.

• Le ragazze leggono.

  The girls are reading.

• Le case sono grandi.

  The houses are big.

• Le amiche spagnole sono qui.

  The Spanish friends are here.

• Le idee sono interessanti.

  The ideas are interesting.

03

When to Use Definite Articles

In addition to referring to specific items, definite articles are used in several situations where they are omitted in English.

For General Categories and Abstract Nouns

Use the definite article to talk about a noun in a general or abstract sense.

• La pazienza è una virtù.

  Patience is a virtue.

• Amo la musica classica.

  I love classical music.

With Possessive Adjectives

Unlike English, a definite article is usually required before a possessive adjective (mio, tuo, suo, etc.).

• Il mio cane è piccolo.

  My dog is small.

• Dov'è la tua macchina?

  Where is your car?

The main exception is with singular, unmodified family members.

• Mio fratello vive a Milano.

  My brother lives in Milan.

• La mia sorella maggiore vive a Milano.

  My older sister lives in Milan. (Article used because of the adjective maggiore)

With Geographical Names

Definite articles are used with continents, countries, regions, large islands, rivers, and mountains.

• L'Europa ha molte culture diverse.

  Europe has many different cultures.

• La Sicilia è un'isola bellissima.

  Sicily is a beautiful island.

For Habitual Actions on Days of the Week

To say that something happens regularly on a certain day, use the definite article.

• Il lunedì vado in palestra.

  On Mondays, I go to the gym.

• La domenica pranziamo con la famiglia.

  On Sundays, we have lunch with the family.