Definite Articles

In brief

Italian has several forms of the definite article (‘the’). Choose one to match the noun’s gender and number; for masculine nouns, the first sound also matters. The article normally comes before the noun.

Form

Singular: masculine il (il libro), lo (lo studente), l’ before a vowel (l’amico); feminine la (la casa), l’ before a vowel (l’amica). Plural: masculine i (i libri), gli (gli studenti, gli amici); feminine le (le case, le amiche).

Usage

• Use lo in the singular and gli in the plural before masculine nouns beginning with z or s + consonant, such as lo zaino and gli studenti.
• Use l’ before singular nouns beginning with a vowel, whether masculine or feminine; their plural articles are gli and le respectively.
• Use the definite article when referring to a particular person or thing: la casa means ‘the house’.

Examples

• Il libro è sul tavolo. — The book is on the table.
• Lo studente è qui. — The student is here.
• L’amica di Marco è italiana. — Marco’s friend is Italian.
• Gli amici sono a casa. — The friends are at home.

Common mistake

❌ il studente

✅ lo studente

Use lo, not il, before a masculine singular noun starting with s + consonant.

Remember

English has one ‘the’; Italian changes the article to fit the noun.