Today, we’ll look at the multipurpose preposition ‘Da‘ and how it can be used to express where a person is going or staying in relation to another person.
Listen to this article in Italian
‘Da‘ is the bridge that connects people to their destinations or places in Italian.
It’s an important tool for expressing who and where you’re going or staying.
This preposition is used to express position and direction, as in da me (at my place), da te (at your place), and so on.
Dallo, dalla, etc., are also used with providers of services, as in dal barbiere (at/to the barber’s).
DA without article
with:
- personal names (da Marco, da Francesco)
- personal pronouns (da te, da voi, etc.)
DA with article
with:
- nouns of professions (dal dentista (to the dentist) , dall’avvocato (to the lawyer)
Do you know how to use da in this context? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.
Look at these examples to see how the preposition DA is used in this way.
→ la preposizione DA
- Questa sera dormo da te (This evening I’ll sleep at your place)
- Maria va da (a casa di) Paolo a studiare (Maria goes to Paolo’s house to study)
Read and Listen to this little conversation
Camilla telefona a Flavia
CAMILLA: Ciao Flavia, come stai?
FLAVIA: Bene e tu?
CAMILLA: Io sono a casa ma non ho voglia di studiare. Posso venire da te?
FLAVIA: Veramente io pensavo di andare da Giulia
CAMILLA: Vai da Giulia? Allora vengo anche io.
FLAVIA: Va bene, ci vediamo da Giulia fra mezz’ora.
CAMILLA: OK, a dopo
Camilla calls Flavia
CAMILLA: Hi Flavia, how are you?
FLAVIA: Well and you?
CAMILLA: I’m at home but I don’t feel like studying. Can I come to you?
FLAVIA: Actually, I was thinking of going to Giulia
CAMILLA: Are you going to Giulia’s? Then I’ll come too.
FLAVIA: Okay, see you at Giulia’s in half an hour.
CAMILLA: OK, see you later
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
Read the explanation to learn more.
1. “Vado da Maria” – I’m Going to Maria’s:
When you say, “Vado da Maria,” you’re telling the world that you’re heading to Maria’s place. Whether it’s for a visit, a chat, or a meal, ‘Da’ helps you express this connection.
2. “Devo andare dal dentista.” – I have to go to the dentist.”
By saying “Vado dal dentista,” you indicate to everyone that you are going to the dental office. Take note that the preposition with the article, i.e. the articulated preposition, is required in this situation.
3. “Vado da lui/lei” -“I’m going to him/her“
In this instance, a pronoun—either male or female—can be used in place of a name.
The preposition “da” has the same meaning.
4. “Sto da Nonna” – I’m at Grandma’s:
Imagine spending time at your grandmother’s house: “Sto da Nonna” means that you’re at your grandma’s place.
5. “Lavoro da Unieuro” – I Work at Unieuro’s:
Da doesn’t exclusively apply to personal visits. In professional contexts, you can use it to indicate where you work. “Lavoro da Unieuro” means you work at Unieuro’s establishment.
6. “Vengo da Te – I’m Coming to Your Place:
‘Da‘ is very flexible. You can use it to indicate coming to someone’s place as well. “Vengo da te” simply means you’re heading to the other person’s location.
7. When ‘Da’ Means Home:
In some contexts, ‘Da’ can even be used to convey the idea of “home.” For example, “Torno da mamma” means “I’m going back home to mom.”
To master the art of using ‘Da’ in this context, practice is your best friend. Engage in conversations, both written and spoken, to become comfortable with its nuances.
What’s next?
You might want to keep learning Italian online with these free resources:
Do you have any questions or examples to share?
Feel free to discuss in the comments below.
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