Italian prepositions

Prepositions are small words used to connect two elements of a sentence.

Learning to use prepositions correctly is one of the biggest difficulties students meet when they study Italian. But don't worry. You will learn them by practicing the language.

In Italian we have two kind of prepositions: preposizioni semplici (simple prepositions) and preposizioni articolate (contracted prepositions).

Preposizioni semplici are: di – a – da – in – con – su – per – tra – fra.

Preposizioni articolate are formed by combining preposizioni semplici (except for prepositions per, tra/fra) with articoli determinativi.

Here are some examples:

• Alice è di Milano. (Alice is from Milan)
• Juan viene dalla Spagna. (Juan comes from Spain)
• Stasera andiamo al cinema. (We are going to the cinema tonight)
• Domenica andiamo in montagna con i nostri amici. (On Sunday we'll go to the mountains with our friends)
• La penna di Maria è sulla sedia. (Maria’s pen is on the chair)
• Parto fra / tra tre settimane. (I leave in three weeks)