Learn more about the use of articles in Italian with this post on how to use Articles with Geographic Words in Italian.
CONTINENTS – STATES – REGIONS
GENERAL RULE
You need the article with the names of the continents.
Es.: l’Europa, l’America
You need the article with the names of states and regions.
Es.: la Francia, la Lombardia
EXCEPTIONS
Alcuni nomi possono fare a meno dell’articolo: (Some nouns usually don’t need the article:)
The names of continents, states and regions are in the singular with the preposition “in“
Ex.: andare in Australia, vivere in Toscana, abitare in Calabria (go to Australia, live in Tuscany, live in Calabria)
- ⚠️ Exception —> nel (in+il) Lazio
Use the article with other prepositions.
ISLANDS
GENERAL RULE
The names of small islands generally do not need the article
Ex.: Capri, Ischia
You need the article with the large islands.
Ex: la Sicilia, la Sardegna.
You need the article with groups of islands:
Ex.: le Eolie, le Canarie
EXCEPTIONS
You need the article with some little islands.
Ex.: l’Elba, il Giglio
You don’t need the article with some large islands.
Ex.: Cipro, Creta
MOUNTAINS – RIVERS – LAKES
GENERAL RULE
You need the article with names that indicate individual mountains or mountain ranges
Ex.: Il monte Bianco, le Alpi
You need the article with the names of rivers, lakes and seas)
Ex.: il Po, il Garda, il Mar Tirreno.
CITIES
GENERAL RULE
I nomi di città non hanno generalmente l’articolo: (You need the article with names of cities)
Es.: Roma, Milano, Firenze.
EXCEPTIONS
You need the article if it’s part of the name.
Ex.: L’Aquila, La Spezia, L’Aia, II Cairo, La Mecca ecc.
You need the article if the name of the city is accompanied by an adjective (or another attribute
Ex: La Roma barocca, la Milano da vivere. La Venezia dei dogi
DISTRICTS – STREETS – SQUARES
GENERAL RULE
Some names of city districts could use the article or not.
Ex i Parioli, Monteverde
Usually, you need the article with the names of streets and squares:
Ex.: Via Verdi, Piazza San Marco
You don’t need the article if there is a family surname for the building.
Ex.: Palazzo Pitti, Palazzo Chigi
What’s next?
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