ILGUR: Italian Language, Grammar and Usage Resource

A confusing aspect of Italian grammar for many students is when to use and when not to use the definite article in Italian. This topic has been covered previously on this site:

• General rules: http://ilgur.com/2010/02/19/lesson-004-definite-article-larticolo-determinativo
• Use of the article with people: http://ilgur.com/2008/09/04/lesson-160-use-of-the-definite-article-with-people
• Use of the article with geography: http://ilgur.com/2008/08/06/lesson-158-using-the-definite-article-with-geography
• Additional rules: http://ilgur.com/2006/11/30/lesson-70-more-on-the-definite-article-larticolo-definito

Below are some general rules on when the definite article is omitted in Italian:

- The article is generally omitted when nouns are used adverbially, such as in prepositional phrases:

in fretta | in a hurry
in comune | in common
a babbo morto
in manette | in handcuffs
di sera | in the evening
di notte | at night
senza zucchero | sugarless

- Often the article omitted with verb + noun expressions, such as:

avere fame | to be hungry
prendere freddo | to catch a chill
fare freddo | to be cold (outside)
cambiare casa | to move (house)

- In many idiomatic expressions, the definite article is left out:

salvare capra e cavoli | to have it both ways
fare piedino | to play footsie
rendere pan per focaccia | to give tit for tat

- When the preposition, di, is followed by a material, the article is not used:

di legno
d’oro
di cotone

- In expressions that use the preposition, da, the definite article is omitted:

vaso da notte | chamber pot
biglietto da dollaro | dollar bill
nano da giardino | garden gnome
carte da gioco | playing cards

- You’ll see articles omitted in newspaper headlines, advertisements and classifieds; this is done, presumably, to save space and to make headlines and ads shorter for our shorter attention spans; recently on La Nuova Sardegna, the following headline was posted: “Marea nera lungo le coste della Sardegna” | Black tide along the coast of Sardinia

- The definite article is omitted with interrogative adjectives (or determiners), indefinite adjectives, and demonstratives:

Che macchina vuoi comprare?

What car do you want to buy?

Non voglio questa casa!

I don’t want this house!

Quella roba costa troppo!

That thing costs too much.

Domani compro qualche francobollo.

Tomorrow I am buying some stamps.