Definite Articles

The articolo determinativo (definite article) varies according to gender, number, and the first letter of the word it precedes. The English equivalent is always the. In the following table you can see its forms.

	Masculine Singular	Feminine Singular	Masculine Plural	Feminine Plural
before a consonant	il	la	i	le
before s + consonant, z, or ps	lo	la	gli	le
before a vowel	l’	l’	gli	le

Uses and Examples

1. Unlike in English, the definite article is rarely omitted in Italian. Following are the situations in which it is always used.
   1. Before a specific item or person, in the singular or plural

      Lo studente non viene mai alle lezioni. The student never comes to lessons. Gli immigrati non tolgono lavoro agli italiani. Immigrants don’t take work from Italians.

   2. With geographical names

      L’Italia è bellissima. Italy is very beautiful.

      NB: The article is, however, omitted after the preposition in if the geographical word is unmodified, feminine, and singular (Italia for example).
      
      

      La Calabria è in Italia, nell’Italia meridionale. Calabria is in Italy, in Southern Italy.

   3. Before abstract nouns and ones which convey general meaning or refer to an entire category

      I cani più pigri abbaiano più forte. The laziest dogs bark the loudest. La pazienza è una virtù. Patience is a virtue. Le piccole città sono più tranquille. Small cities are more peaceful.

   4. With proper names preceded by a title

      I Finzi-Contini abitarono a Ferrara. The Finzi-Continis lived in Ferrara. Il professor Forni non sa insegnare. Professor Forni can’t teach. La zia Karen ama lavorare nel giardino. Aunt Karen loves working in the garden.

   5. Before nouns referring to body parts or personal possessions, instead of the possessive

      Non mettere le dita nel naso! Don’t put your fingers in your nose! Hai portato gli occhiali da sole? Did you bring your sunglasses?

   6. Before days of the week to indicate a repeated action (all days of the week are masculine, except la domenica)

      Il lunedì studio ma la domenica dormo. On Mondays I study, but on Sundays I sleep.

   7. Usually before the names of languages (all languages are masculine), unless they are preceded by di or in. The article is often omitted when the language immediately follows verbs parlare, insegnare, or studiare.

      Giulia vuole imparare il giapponese. Giulia wants to learn Japanese. Ecco il libro di spagnolo. Here is the Spanish book. Eugenia parla francese. Eugenia speaks French. Parliamo molto bene l’inglese. We speak English very well.

   8. In the expression fare il / la + profession

      Voglio fare la giornalista. I want to be a journalist. Mio padre fa l’idraulico. My dad is a plumber.

2. The definite article is not used in the following cases:
   1. Before family names when addressing people directly

      Zio Ivano, perché bevi così tanto? Uncle Ivano, why do you drink so much?

   2. After essere and verbs indicating a change in status, such as diventare and eleggere, followed by an unmodified profession

      Mario Monti è diventato Presidente del Consiglio nel 2011. Mario Monti became the Prime Minister in 2011.