Articles are words that precede the substantive (a noun).

Definite article: used to indicate that a thing is unique in some way.

Indefinite article: used to indicate that a thing is not identified as unique.

In Italian the article must agree in gender and number with the noun, which means that the definite article la, for example, should precede a singular and feminine. Study the chart below:

* Note

L – before a vowel

Lo- before words starting with: s + another consonant (ie:   st; sb) or z

Gli– before a vowel or words starting with: s + another consonant (ie: st; sb) or z

Un’ – before a vowel (only to feminine words)

Uno  – before words starting with: s + another consonant   (ie:   st; sb) or z

Una  – before a consonante

Examples

Study the examples below:

• Il libro – The book
• L’amico – The friend (the male friend)
• Lo spettacolo – The spectacle
• Lo zio – The uncle
• I libri – The books
• Gli amici – The friends
• Gli spettacoli – The spectacles
• Gli zoccoli – The claws

• Un libro – A book
• Un premio – a prize
• Un amico – A friend
• Uno spettacolo – A spectacle
• Uno zoccolo – A claw

• La macchina – The car
• L’amica – The friend (the female friend)
• Le macchine – The cars
• Le amiche

• Una macchina – A car
• Un´amica – a friend (a female friend)

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