Simple prepositions in Italian

I'm starting to learn prepositions! This is Part 1 of a two-part series.

Let's cover some of the more common prepositions in Italian today, and tomorrow I'll review how these interact with definite and indefinite articles in sentences.

So, let's start with the basics.

Di - Of, From:

  1. Indicates possession: La casa di Marco (Marco's house).
  2. Can express origin: Sono di Roma (I am from Rome).
  3. Used in certain idiomatic expressions: Parlare di qualcosa (to talk about something).

A - To, At, In:

  1. Indicates direction or destination: Vado a scuola (I go to school).
  2. Used with time expressions: A mezzogiorno (At noon).
  3. Can indicate the purpose: Una lettera a te (A letter to you).

Da - From, Since, By:

  1. Expresses origin or cause: Vengo da Milano (I come from Milan).
  2. Used with time to indicate duration: Da lunedì (Since Monday).
  3. Indicates the agent in passive constructions: È fatto da lui (It's done by him).

In - In, To:

  1. Indicates location: Vivo in Italia (I live in Italy).
  2. Used with means of transport: Vado in treno (I go by train).
  3. Can express a situation: In vacanza (On vacation).

Con - With:

  1. Expresses accompaniment: Vado al cinema con Maria (I go to the cinema with Maria).
  2. Can indicate a means or instrument: Scrivo con la penna (I write with a pen).

Su - On, Over:

  1. Indicates position: Il libro è su tavolo (The book is on the table).
  2. Can express approximation: Sono su 50 persone (There are about 50 people).

Per - For, Through:

    • Indicates purpose or goal: Studio per imparare (I study to learn).
    • Used with duration: Rimango qui per una settimana (I stay here for a week).
    • Can indicate means: Per posta (By mail).

Tra/Fra - Between, Among, In:

  1. Expresses location or time: La penna è tra i libri (The pen is between the books).
  2. Indicates future time: Fra due ore (In two hours).

Prepositions in Italian often require the article to be combined with them, creating compound forms such as nel (in + il), sul (su + il), or della (di + la). We'll get into those tomorrow.

Idiom of the day

Partire è un po' morire.

Literally, to "To leave is a bit to die." It expresses the bittersweet feeling of leaving a place or people behind.