Indefinite Articles

In Italian, indefinite articles are used to refer to nonspecific nouns. They can be translated into English as "a" or "an" before singular nouns, or as "some" before plural nouns.

Usage

The choice of which indefinite article to use depends on the gender, number, and starting letter of the noun. Here are the general guidelines:

1. Use "un" before masculine singular nouns that start with a consonant:

   • un ragazzo (a boy)
   • un libro (a book)

2. Use "uno" before masculine singular nouns that start with a vowel or a consonant sound:

   • uno zio (an uncle)
   • uno studente (a student)

3. Use "una" before feminine singular nouns that start with a consonant:

   • una ragazza (a girl)
   • una penna (a pen)

4. Use "un'" before feminine singular nouns that start with a vowel or a consonant sound:

   • un'amica (a friend)
   • un'ora (an hour)

5. Use "dei" before masculine plural nouns:

   • dei ragazzi (some boys)
   • dei libri (some books)

6. Use "delle" before feminine plural nouns:

   • delle ragazze (some girls)
   • delle penne (some pens)

Exceptions

There are some exceptions to the general rules mentioned above:

1. Use "un" (not "uno") before masculine singular nouns starting with s + consonant or z:

   • un secchio (a bucket)
   • un zaino (a backpack)

2. Use "una" (not "un'") before feminine singular nouns starting with s + consonant or z:

   • una scuola (a school)
   • una zia (an aunt)

3. Use "uno" (not "un") before masculine singular nouns starting with gn or pn:

   • uno gnomo (a gnome)
   • uno pneumatico (a tire)

4. Use "uno" (not "un") before masculine singular nouns starting with a vowel sound followed by gl or gn:

   • uno gli (a gelato)
   • uno gnocco (a dumpling)

Summary

To summarize, when using indefinite articles in Italian:

• Choose "un" for masculine singular nouns starting with a consonant, except for those starting with s + consonant or z.
• Choose "uno" for masculine singular nouns starting with a vowel or a consonant sound, except for those starting with gn, pn, or a vowel sound followed by gl or gn.
• Choose "una" for feminine singular nouns starting with a consonant, except for those starting with s + consonant or z.
• Choose "un'" for feminine singular nouns starting with a vowel or a consonant sound.
• Choose "dei" for masculine plural nouns.
• Choose "delle" for feminine plural nouns.

By following these guidelines, you will be able to use indefinite articles correctly in Italian.