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Italian grammar · Level A1

Italian articles: il, lo, la, un

An article comes before almost every noun and shows its gender and number. The choice also depends on the first letter of the next word: il libro, but lo zaino and l’amico.

QuizContents
Contents
  1. Noun gender
  2. The definite article
  3. The indefinite article
  4. Common mistakes
  5. Quiz
  6. FAQ

Noun gender

Most nouns in -o are masculine (il libro), most in -a feminine (la casa). Nouns in -e can be either (il pane, la notte) — learn them with the article. In the plural -o → -i, -a → -e, -e → -i: libri, case, notti.

  • Il treno parte alle otto.The train leaves at eight.
  • La chiave è sul tavolo.The key is on the table.

The definite article

Masculine: il before an ordinary consonant; lo before s + consonant, z, gn, ps, y; l’ before a vowel. In the plural il → i, lo and l’ → gli. Feminine: la, l’ before a vowel, plural le.

Definite articles
BeforeSingularPlural
masc., consonantil libroi libri
masc., s+cons., z, gn, pslo studente, lo ziogli studenti, gli zii
masc., vowell’amicogli amici
fem., consonantla casale case
fem., vowell’amicale amiche
  • Lo zaino è nuovo.The backpack is new.
  • Gli studenti sono in classe.The students are in class.
  • Mi piace l’arte moderna.I like modern art.

The indefinite article

The indefinite article means “a, an, one”. Masculine: un (also before a vowel, with no apostrophe), uno wherever the definite article is lo. Feminine: una, un’ before a vowel. In the plural: dei, degli, delle, or no article.

Indefinite articles
GenderConsonants+cons., z…Vowel
masculineun librouno zainoun amico
feminineuna casauna studentessaun’amica
  • Ho un fratello e una sorella.I have a brother and a sister.
  • Cerco uno psicologo.I’m looking for a psychologist.

Tip: The apostrophe is only for the feminine: un’amica (a woman), but un amico (a man). That way you can see who is meant.

Common mistakes

The mistakes people make most often — and the right way.

  • Wrong: il zaino

    Right: lo zaino

    Before z: lo.

  • Wrong: i studenti

    Right: gli studenti

    The plural of lo is gli.

  • Wrong: un’amico

    Right: un amico

    No apostrophe in the masculine.

  • Wrong: la amica

    Right: l’amica

    Before a vowel la → l’.

Articles: il, lo, la, un

Quiz

10 questions: choose the right option — the explanation appears straight away.

  1. Question 1

    _____ libro è sul tavolo.

  2. Question 2

    _____ zaino è pesante.

  3. Question 3

    _____ amica di Paolo si chiama Sara.

  4. Question 4

    _____ studenti sono in biblioteca.

  5. Question 5

    Ho comprato _____ macchina nuova.

  6. Question 6

    C’è _____ albergo vicino alla stazione?

  7. Question 7

    _____ case in questa via sono antiche.

  8. Question 8

    Mio padre è _____ ingegnere.

  9. Question 9

    Ho _____ zio a Napoli.

  10. Question 10

    _____ ragazzi giocano a calcio.

Correct: 0 of 10

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FAQ

Didn’t find your answer? Send us a request — we’ll tell you everything.

Do names and countries take an article?

Not before first names: Marco, Anna. Countries do: l’Italia, la Francia, l’Ucraina. But not after in: Vivo in Italia.

Articles with possessives: il mio libro?

Yes, usually: il mio libro, la tua casa. The exception is singular family members: mia madre, tuo fratello (but i miei fratelli).

How do I learn the gender of nouns in -e?

Together with the article: not “pane” but “il pane”, not “notte” but “la notte”. Words in -zione are always feminine (la stazione), most in -ore masculine (il colore).

Other topics

All topics50 most common Italian wordsItalian level test

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