How to say “out of”: Italian grammar lesson 102

The preposition da in Italian has a lot of different meanings and can be used in a wide variety of contexts. In this lesson, we will have a look at how to use da to say “out of” or “because of” in Italian.  Let’s learn it with simple rules and examples and practice with audio lessons.

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The preposition DA in Italian

Remember, when followed by a definite article (il, lo, la, i, gli, le) and a noun, the preposition da joins onto the article, becoming one word.

These are called preposizioni articolate. 

For the construction we will learn today, you must know these perfectly, so let’s review them:

  • da + il = dal
    This is used with masculine singular nouns.

Vado dal dottore.

I go to the doctor.

Vado dalla nonna.

I go to grandma’s place.

  • da + i = dai
    This is used with masculine plural nouns that start with a consonant.

Vado dai miei nonni.

I go to my grandparents’ place.

  • da + gli = dagli
    This is used with masculine plural nouns that start with a vowel or with “z”.

Vado dagli zii.

I go to my uncles’.

  • da + le = dalle
    Dalle is used with feminine plural nouns.

Vado dalle zie.

I go to my aunts’.

How to say “out of”

out of because of italian

So, once you know all the forms you will be using, let’s see how to say “out of” or because of” in Italian.

Here are some examples:

Mi sono addormentata dalla noia.

I fell asleep out of boredom.

Sto morendo dal caldo.

I am really hot. (Lit. I am dying because of the heat.)

As you can see in the examples above, in Italian we can explain the cause of something simply by using the preposition da and its derivates followed by a noun. 

Trema dal freddo.

She is shivering out of the cold.

Ho pianto dalla rabbia.

I cried out of anger.

Other ways of saying “out of”

dal dalla italian

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Of course, there are other ways of expressing the “cause” of something in Italian. So how do we know when to use the structure da+noun?

As you could see from the examples, this structure is mostly used with feelings and emotions that directly affect someone, like:

Sono quasi svenuta dalla paura.

I almost fainted because of the fright.

Si sta addormentando in piedi dalla stanchezza.

He’s falling asleep standing out of tiredness (because he’s really tired).

In other cases, to express a cause we can use other prepositions like per (for), per via di (due to), a causa di (because of), etc.

Sono triste per la sconfitta.

I am sad because of the defeat.

Non siamo andati per via della pioggia.

We did not go due to the rain.

Mi si è bloccato il telefono a causa del freddo.

My phone got stuck because of the cold.

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FAQs on How to say “out of”: Italian grammar lesson 102

How do you use the preposition da in Italian?

The preposition da in Italian is a crucial connector between nouns and has multiple translations in English, including "from" and "by." It plays a significant role in Italian phrases that express time in a complex manner and is also an essential component of many commonly used expressions.

What is the difference between DA and per in Italian?

"Da" is often translated to English as "from", "since", or "for". It can indicate the origin of something or it can also indicate the starting point of a journey or an action. "Da" can also be used to convey the duration of a certain action or state. On the other hand, "per" is typically translated as "for". It can be used to express the purpose of an action, or it can also indicate a duration of time, as in. Additionally, "per" can be used in a causal sense, implying that something happened because of something else.

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