Italian does not always use articles in the same way as English. Sometimes Italian requires an article where English uses none, while in other situations the article is omitted. Learning these differences is important because translating a, an, and the directly from English does not always produce a correct Italian sentence.
When Italian Uses Articles
Italian normally uses definite articles (il, lo, la, l', i, gli, le) when talking about specific people or things that are already known or can be identified. It also uses definite articles when referring to people, animals, or things in general. This second use is especially important because English often uses plural nouns or nouns such as music, coffee, and water without an article. Italian, by contrast, generally includes one. The same pattern is common after verbs such as piacere, when expressing likes and preferences.
Il libro è sul tavolo. — The book is on the table.
I cani sono animali fedeli. — Dogs are loyal animals.
Mi piace la musica. — I like music.
Mi piacciono i gatti. — I like cats.
Italian also uses indefinite articles (un, uno, una, un') for one unspecified person or thing, much like English a and an. For unspecified quantities, partitive articles such as del, della, dei, and delle are also common and often correspond to English some.
Ho un fratello. — I have a brother.
Cerco una penna. — I'm looking for a pen.
Vorrei del pane. — I would like some bread.
When Italian Omits Articles
Although articles are very common in Italian, they are normally omitted before personal names and most city names. We say Marco and Roma, not il Marco or la Roma, in ordinary Italian. Articles are also generally omitted before singular family nouns preceded by simple possessives, such as mio padre, mia madre, and mio fratello. This applies when the family noun has no descriptive word added to it. The possessive loro is an important exception: it normally requires the article, as in il loro padre.
Marco vive a Roma. — Marco lives in Rome.
Mia madre è italiana. — My mother is Italian.
Mio fratello ha vent'anni. — My brother is twenty years old.
Another common situation is when stating someone's profession after the verb essere. In simple sentences, Italian often omits the indefinite article before the name of a profession, even though English normally requires a or an. An article is commonly used when an adjective describes the profession. Articles are also omitted in some common expressions, particularly after certain prepositions. These expressions are best learned as complete phrases rather than by applying a general rule to every noun.
Marco è medico. — Marco is a doctor.
Anna è insegnante. — Anna is a teacher.
Marco è un bravo medico. — Marco is a good doctor.
Vado a scuola. — I'm going to school.
Sono a casa. — I'm at home.
Vado in ufficio. — I'm going to the office.
Summary of Article Use and Omission
| Situation | Article | Italian example | English translation |
| Specific person or thing | Used | Il libro è sul tavolo. | The book is on the table. |
| People or things in general | Usually used | Mi piacciono i gatti. | I like cats. |
| One unspecified person or thing | Used | Ho un fratello. | I have a brother. |
| Unspecified quantity | Partitive often used | Vorrei del pane. | I would like some bread. |
| Personal names and most city names | Usually omitted | Marco vive a Roma. | Marco lives in Rome. |
| Singular family noun with a simple possessive, except loro, and no descriptive words | Usually omitted | Mia madre è italiana. | My mother is Italian. |
| Profession after essere | Often omitted | Anna è insegnante. | Anna is a teacher. |
| Common expressions with places | Omitted in certain expressions | Vado a scuola. | I'm going to school. |