Italian Prepositions: A Complete Guide and How to Learn Them

What’s a preposition in Italian?

I like to describe prepositions as the glue that holds words together in a sentence. A preposition is a small word that connects different parts of a sentence and affects the meaning of a noun, adjective, or verb. Common prepositions in English include “in,” “at,” “by,” and “for,” among others. Similarly, common Italian prepositions include “di,” “a,” “in,” “tra,” and others.

Simple prepositions (preposizioni semplici)

In Italian, prepositions come in two types: simple and articulated. Let’s start with the simple ones.

Simple prepositions are standalone words that never change, whatever the gender or number of the noun that follows. There are eight of them: di, a, da, in, con, su, per, tra (or fra).

Articulated prepositions (preposizioni articolate)

Articulated prepositions are created by combining a simple preposition with a definite article (il, lo, l’, la, i, gli, le). The result changes with the gender and number of the noun:

• di + il → del (of the)
• a + i → ai (to the)
• di + la → della (of the)
• su + i → sui (on the)

Note: not all prepositions combine with articles. Tra/fra and per never do, and con does so only rarely (col, coi), so in everyday Italian it stays separate: con il, con i.

Here is the full table. Learn it row by row: once you see the pattern, it’s much easier than it looks.

How to learn Italian prepositions: my tips

I’ve been teaching Italian to native English speakers for over 10 years, and these are my top tips for mastering Italian prepositions:

1. Start with basic patterns, not everything at once

Begin with simple, foundational rules. For example, use “a” before cities and “in” before countries. Don’t try to tackle every nuance of complex prepositions like di or da all at once: it’s too much, too soon.

2. Focus on common phrases and fixed expressions

Learn prepositions as part of natural word combinations. Useful examples include:

• pieno di → full of
• pronto a → ready to
• parlare con → to talk with
• venire da → to come from
• consigliare di → to advise (someone) to

These patterns are more useful (and memorable) than isolated grammar explanations.

3. Context is everything

Many Italian prepositions have multiple English equivalents, depending on the sentence. For instance, tra can mean:

• between (spatial): tra due sedie → between two chairs
• in (time): tra cinque minuti → in five minutes

Understanding the context is key to using prepositions correctly.

4. Read regularly to build intuition

Reading simplified Italian texts exposes you to natural preposition usage in real sentences. Over time, this builds your intuitive understanding of correct word order and usage, without needing to memorize long rule lists.

5. Be patient: mastery takes time

Like many parts of language learning, prepositions become easier through regular exposure and use. Don’t expect perfection right away. Instead, focus on steady improvement through reading, listening, and speaking.

DI: of, ‘s, some

Examples:

The most common use of “di” is when it corresponds to the English possessive “‘s” and the noun + noun structure. For example:

• Il libro di italiano (The Italian book)
• La casa dei miei nonni (My grandparents’ house)
• La lezione di Serena (Serena’s lesson)
• Il corso di italiano (The Italian course)

“Di” is also used in partitive constructions with the meaning of “some” or “any,” indicating an indefinite quantity. For example:

• Vorrei del pane (I would like some bread)
• Vorrei dello zucchero (I would like some sugar)
• Hai delle uova? (Do you have any eggs?)

Typically, in this type of sentence, we use articulated prepositions (di + definite article).

“Di” is sometimes used after certain verbs that are typically followed by a second verb. In this case, it works like a connector. For example:

• Finisco di lavorare alle sei (I finish working at six)
• Spero di passare l’esame (I hope to pass the exam)
• Ho voglia di fare una passeggiata (I feel like going for a walk)

“Di” is also used in a number of common expressions, such as:

A: to, at, in

You should also know…

The preposition “a” can mean “in” or “to” when referring to a location you are going to and “at” when referring to a place where you currently are.

There are no strict rules, but some common patterns can help:

1. “A” with the verb “andare” (to go)
   • When “andare” is followed by another verb, “a” means “to”.
2. “A” before city/town names
   • A means “in” or “to” when used before the name of a city or town.
3. “A” or its articulated forms (“al, alla, ai”) for places
   • When referring to a place you are going to or currently at, a or its contracted forms (articulated prepositions) are used.
   • Note: Whether to use “a” or “al/alla/ai” depends on the gender and number of the following noun. It’s helpful to memorize common expressions (e.g., vado al mare).
4. “A” for time expressions
   • “A” or “alle” is used when talking about time.

Common expressions using the preposition A:

DA: from, since, for, by, at someone’s place

What does “da” mean in Italian? 

Main meanings: from, for, since, by, to

“Da” mainly means “from” when indicating place and is combined with certain verbs like “partire da” (to leave from) and “venire da” (to come from). For example:

• Vengo da Milano (I’m coming from Milan)
• Parto da Roma (I’m leaving from Rome)

“Da” also means “since” or “for” when indicating how long (since when) you’ve been doing something. For instance:

• Vivo a Roma da due anni (I’ve been living in Rome for two years)
• Vivo a Roma dal 2018  (I’ve been living in Rome since 2018)
• Comincio a studiare da domani (I’ll start studying tomorrow)

In passive forms, “da” means “by.” For example:

• Questa azienda è stata fondata da mio padre (This company was founded by my father)
• Questo libro è stato scritto dalla mia insegnante (This book was written by my teacher)

“Da” means “to someone” or “at the house of someone” when used with the verbs “andare” and “essere.” The typical mistake here is to use “a” or “in” instead of “da.” For instance:

• Vado dai miei amici (I’m going to my friends’ place), not vado ai miei amici
• Vado dal medico (I’m going to the doctor’s), not vado al medico

Finally, “da” is also used before an infinitive and after “molto“, “poco“, “niente“, “troppo“, “qualcosa“, and “nulla“.

• Non c’è molto da fare. (There isn’t much to do.)
• Hai qualcosa da dire? (Do you have anything to say?)

“Da”, together with “a”, is also used in time expressions, such as:

• da lunedì a venerdì (Monday through Friday)
• dalle 14 alle 15 (from 2pm to 3pm)
• da marzo a giugno (from March to June)

Common expressions using the prepositions da:

IN: in, to, by

“In” means “in” before the names of countries, regions, or states.

Example:

• Vado in Italia (I’m going to Italy)
• Vado in Toscana (I’m going to Tuscany)
• Vado in Texas (I’m going to Texas)

“In” means “to” when referring to a location we are going to. This is a similar use of the preposition “a,” which is why it’s sometimes difficult to decide whether to use “a” or “in.” Unfortunately, there are no clear rules for using “in” and “a” when referring to going to a place. The best approach is to learn them in combination with the noun they are followed by.

Common expressions with “in”:

If you want to learn more about the use of “in” and “a,” I go into further detail in this article (the difference between “in” and “a”).

“In” means “by” when talking about transport.

Example:

• in treno (by train)
• in macchina (by car)
• in aereo (by plane)
• in bici (by bike)

CON: with

The preposition “con” almost always corresponds to the English word “with”. Sometimes it also expresses the means: con il treno (by train), con la carta di credito (by credit card).

Examples:

• Parlo con mia madre (I’m talking to my mother)
• Vado al cinema con i miei amici (I’m going to the movies with my friends)

SU: on, about

Main meanings: on, about 

The preposition “su” means “on” when indicating location in space. For example:

• Il libro è sul tavolo (The book is on the table)
• Il gatto è sulla sedia (The cat is on the chair)

Another common use of “su” is when indicating the subject of something. In this case, it means “about“. For example:

• Un film sull’Italia (A film about Italy)
• Un libro su Michelangelo (A book about Michelangelo). 

In both cases, the preposition “su” is typically used in the form of articulated prepositions (su + definite article: sul, sulla, sui, etc.).

PER: for, in order to

Main meanings: for, to 

The preposition “per” corresponds to the English word “for“, when indicating a time frame. For instance:  

• Vado in palestra per due ore (I go to the gym for two hours)
• Vado in Sicilia per due settimane (I’m going to Sicily for two weeks)

“Per” also means “to + verb” when used with the meaning of “in order to do something” and indicates an aim. For example:

• Studio per migliorare il mio italiano (I study to improve my Italian)
• Faccio una dieta per perdere peso (I’m on a diet to lose weight) 

TRA / FRA: between, among, in

Main meanings: in, between, among 

The most common use of “tra” or “fra” is when they are used to indicate a future time. In this case, tra or fra mean “in” For example:

• Tra due giorni (In two days)

In this case, “tra” is always followed by a period of time.

Typical mistake: using “in” instead of “tra”.

• ❌ Vado in vacanza in una settimana.
• ✅ Vado in vacanza tra una settimana.

Another use of “tra” or “fra” is when indicating space and meaning “between” or “among“. For example:

• Firenze si trova tra Roma e Milano. (Florence is located between Rome and Milan.)

“Tra” and “fra” have the same use and are interchangeable.  

Read more:

• Italian Prepositions: In or A?
• Italian Prepositions: the many meanings of DA

Exercise: choose the right preposition

Complete the sentences with the right preposition (simple or articulated).

1. Vivo ______ Roma ______ cinque anni.
2. Domani vado ______ medico.
3. Il libro è ______ tavolo.
4. Parto ______ vacanza ______ una settimana.
5. Questa è la macchina ______ mio fratello.
6. Vado ______ Spagna ______ treno.
7. Studio italiano ______ parlare con i miei nonni.
8. Stasera esco ______ i miei amici.

Frequently asked questions

What are the simple prepositions in Italian?

The simple prepositions are di, a, da, in, con, su, per and tra (or fra). A classic way Italian students remember them is the list “di, a, da, in, con, su, per, tra, fra.”

What are articulated prepositions in Italian?

They are a preposition combined with a definite article, for example di + il = del, a + la = alla, in + i = nei. Di, a, da, in and su always combine with the article.

When do you use a or in with places?

Use a with cities and towns (a Roma, a Milano) and in with countries, regions and large islands (in Italia, in Toscana, in Sicilia). For other places there are fixed expressions to learn, like al mare but in montagna.

Prepositions are best learned in context, and reading is the fastest way to get them into your ear. My stories are full of everyday Italian, with vocabulary support and audio. Here are three to try:

Magia a Venezia
Level A1/A2

A mystery in Venice, with time travel and acqua alta.

Incontri in Sicilia
Level A2

Fiona travels to Sicily and meets the people who change her trip.

Mediterraneo
Level B1

Liam and Charlotte’s new life in Puglia turns into a mystery.