Definite Articles in Italian (il, lo, la, l’, i, gli, le)
Clear rules + bite-size practice. Instant feedback. No page reloads.
Hard mode activated — all hints hidden!
Quick reference
| Masculine — singular → plural | Examples |
|---|---|
| il → i before most consonants | il libro → i libri |
| lo → gli before s+consonant, z, ps, gn, x | lo studente → gli studenti |
| l’ → gli before a vowel | l’amico → gli amici |
| Feminine — singular → plural | Examples |
|---|---|
| la → le before consonants | la casa → le case |
| l’ → le before a vowel | l’amica → le amiche |
Tip. lo + gli are your “cluster & vowel helpers”: use them with s+consonant (lo studente), z (lo zaino), ps (lo psicologo), gn (lo gnomo), x (lo xilofono), and before a vowel in the singular (l’amico).
Exercise 1 — Pick the right article
Choose the correct definite article for each noun.
__ zaino (backpack)
__ amico (friend, m.)
__ casa (house)
__ studenti (students, m. pl.)
__ amiche (friends, f. pl.)
Exercise 2 — Type the missing article
Write only the article (e.g., lo, gli, le, l’). Tip mode shows hints
_____ libro
_____ psicologi
_____ orologio
_____ vini
_____ strada
Exercise 3 — Transform to plural
Write the full plural phrase (article + noun). Example: l’amico → gli amici.
lo studente →
l’amico →
la lezione →
il quaderno →
l’amica →
Exercise 4 — Spot & fix the mistake
Each sentence has one article mistake. Type the corrected article only.
I amici sono qui. →
Lo amici studiano. →
Le zaini sono pesanti. →
Il amica di Paolo è qui. →
L’ studenti sono pronti. →
Mini FAQ
Do proper names take the article? Usually no: Maria è a casa. Some place names do (e.g., il Cairo).
Why “l’amico” but “lo zio”? Before vowels in the singular → l’. For masculine clusters like z, use lo.