What are indefinite articles in Italian?
Indefinite articles (articoli indeterminativi) refer to nouns more generally than definite articles and introduce a non-specific noun or concept.
Italian indefinite articles have a similar function to a and an in English.
In Italian indefinite articles have different forms according to the following things:
- the gender of the noun (masculine or feminine).
- the first letters of the noun or adjective precede.
How to use indefinite articles?
In Italian, there are 4 indefinite articles: Uno, un, una, and un’.
As with definite articles, the rules about selecting the right indefinite article are based on the noun’s spelling and grammatical gender.
They are not based on grammatical numbers, as indefinite articles only have a singular form and are not used with plural nouns.
Indefinite articles are great clues to understanding the noun’s grammatical gender!
How to conjugate indefinite articles?
For singular and masculine nouns and adjectives we use:
- Uno: it is used just for singular masculine nouns beginning with z, gn, ps, or s+consonant.
- Un: it is used for all other singular masculine nouns beginning with a vowel, and with a consonant not included in uno’s list.
For singular and feminine nouns and adjectives we use:
- Una: it is used for all singular feminine nouns beginning with a consonant.
- Un’: it is used for all singular feminine nouns beginning with a vowel.
You can follow the two tables below for the conjugation of singular and feminine nouns according to the beginning of the word after the article.
This word is usually a noun, but it could be an adjective too. Please note that un’ (with the apostrophe) is only used with feminine nouns and never with masculine nouns.
Masculine nouns
| z | s+ consonant | ps | gn | vowels and all other consonants |
| UNO | UNO | UNO | UNO | UN |
| zaino
(=backpack) zero (=zero) |
specchio
(=mirror) studente (=male student) |
psicologo
(=psychologist) |
gnomo
(=gnome) |
amico
(=male friend) cameriere (=waiter) libro (=book) |
Feminine nouns
| consonants | vowels |
| UNA | UN’ |
| casa (=house)
borsa (=bag) 
studentessa (=female student) pizza |
amica (=female friend)
attrice (=actress) emozione (=emotion)
|
Practice with Quizlet
Here's a set of flashcards and quizzes to practice this grammar topic.When to use indefinite articles?
Let’s take a look at when to use indefinite articles and some examples.
- Referring to something for the first time:
Maria ha un gatto.
Il suo gatto è bellissimo!
Maria has a cat.
Her cat is beautiful!
- Introducing general or non-specific nouns (they don’t refer to an object, person, or place in particular):
Vuoi una fetta di torta?
Would you like a slice of cake?
Mi puoi passare un fazzoletto?
Can you pass me a tissue?
- To refer to groups, categories, or species:
Un leone mangia circa 14 chili di carne al giorno.
A lion eats about 14 kilos of meat per day.
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