Prepositions for Motion and Destination

In brief

When you say where someone is going, Italian uses different prepositions depending on the destination. English often uses ‘to’ for all of them, but Italian distinguishes cities, countries, and people.

Form

andare + a + city; andare + in + country or region; andare + da + person; partire + per + destination

Usage

• Use a for a city or town you are going to: a Roma.
• Use in for a country or region you are going to: in Italia, in Toscana.
• Use da when going to see someone or to their place: da Luca.
• Use per with partire to name the destination you are leaving for: per Napoli.

Examples

• Vado a Roma. — I’m going to Rome.
• Andiamo in Italia. — We’re going to Italy.
• Vado da Luca. — I’m going to Luca’s place.
• Partiamo per Napoli. — We’re leaving for Naples.

Common mistake

❌ Vado a Italia.

✅ Vado in Italia.

Don’t use a for every English ‘to’: when the destination is a country, use in.

Remember

For destinations, think a city, in country, da person. After partire, per can introduce where you’re headed.