What is the partitive article in Italian?

It is the Italian way to say some: del pane (some bread), dell'acqua (some water), degli amici (some friends). Its forms are di plus the definite article: del, dello, dell', della, dei, degli, delle.

How do you say some in Italian?

With the partitive article (del pane, delle mele), with un po' di for small amounts (un po' di sale), with alcuni or alcune for plural countable nouns (alcuni libri), or with qualche plus a singular noun (qualche libro). In many sentences you can also leave some out completely.

Is the partitive article required in Italian?

No. In positive sentences it is usually optional: compro del pane and compro pane are both correct. In negative sentences it is normally left out: non compro pane. In the plural it is the most common way to say some.

What is the difference between the partitive del and the preposition di?

They have the same form but different jobs. In ho comprato del pane, del means some. In il colore del pane, del means of the. The context always makes it clear.

What is the difference between alcuni, qualche, and dei?

All three mean some or a few with countable nouns. Dei, degli, and delle are the most neutral. Alcuni and alcune sound slightly more precise. Qualche takes a singular noun: qualche amico means the same as alcuni amici.

Italian grammar · Beginner

Italian Partitive Article

Written by Parrot Italian Team, Italian Curriculum Editors · Reviewed October 2026

The Italian partitive article expresses an amount you are not counting: some bread, some friends. It has the same forms as di plus the definite article: del, dello, dell', della, dei, degli, delle. English often leaves some out, and Italian often can too, but in the plural the partitive also works as the missing plural of un and una.

Vorrei del pane e delle olive.

I'd like some bread and some olives.

What it is

When you mean some, or an amount you are not counting, Italian can use the partitive article. Its forms are di plus the definite article, so the choice follows the article rules exactly: del pane, dello zucchero, dell'acqua, della pasta, dei libri, degli amici, delle idee. With uncountable nouns it means some or a bit of; with plural nouns it means some or a few.

Compro del latte (I'm buying some milk), ho conosciuto degli studenti (I met some students), ci sono delle sedie libere (there are some free chairs).

How to spot it

If you could put some or any before the English noun, the partitive is an option. If English would say the, you need the definite article instead.

Bevo dell'acqua. (I'm drinking some water.)
Ho comprato dello yogurt. (I bought some yogurt.)
Abbiamo invitato degli amici. (We invited some friends.)
Mi servono delle uova. (I need some eggs.)

In negative sentences the partitive is normally dropped: non ho pane, non ci sono problemi. In questions it is optional: c'è del latte? and c'è latte? are both correct.

Partitive Article Quick Reference

The partitive forms, by gender, number, and the first sound of the next word

Next word starts with	Masculine singular	Masculine plural	Feminine singular	Feminine plural
Most consonants	del (del pane)	dei (dei libri)	della (della pasta)	delle (delle mele)
s + consonant, z, gn, ps, x, y	dello (dello zucchero)	degli (degli spaghetti)	della (della stoffa)	delle (delle scarpe)
A vowel	dell' (dell'olio)	degli (degli amici)	dell' (dell'acqua)	delle (delle arance)

Common Partitive Article Examples in Italian

The partitive article and its alternatives in everyday sentences:

Some (Uncountable)

Vuoi del vino?: Would you like some wine?
Metti dell'olio nella pentola.: Put some oil in the pan.
C'è ancora della torta.: There's still some cake.

With a singular noun, the partitive means an amount of something you do not count.

Some (Plural)

Ho dei dubbi.: I have some doubts.
Sono arrivati degli ospiti.: Some guests have arrived.

With a plural noun, the partitive works as the plural of un and una.

Alternatives

Ho comprato un po' di pane.: I bought a bit of bread.
Ho letto alcuni articoli.: I read a few articles.
Ho qualche domanda.: I have a few questions.

Qualche always takes a singular noun, even though it means some or a few.

Dropped in Negatives

Non abbiamo latte.: We don't have any milk.
Non ci sono posti liberi.: There aren't any free seats.

English any after not becomes no article at all in Italian.

How the Italian Partitive Article Works

The forms are easy if you know di and the definite article. The real skill is knowing when to use them and when to leave them out.

Same Forms as Di Plus the Article

Pick the definite article the noun needs (lo zucchero, il caffè), then fuse it with di. The partitive and the articulated preposition look identical; only the meaning differs.

Compro dello zucchero e del caffè.

I'm buying some sugar and some coffee.

lo zucchero → dello zucchero.

Often Optional in Positive Sentences

In a positive sentence you can usually choose between the partitive and no article at all. Lists and shopping sentences often leave it out, exactly as English often drops some.

Compro pane e latte.

I'm buying bread and milk.

del pane or pane: both correct.

Dropped After Non

In a negative sentence, Italian normally uses no article where English has any. This is the same idea as English no in I have no brothers.

Non ho fratelli.

I don't have any brothers.

non + verb + bare noun.

Qualche Takes a Singular Noun

Qualche means some or a few, but the noun and the verb after it are always singular. Alcuni and alcune, which mean the same, take the plural.

Ho qualche amico a Milano.

I have a few friends in Milan.

qualche amico = alcuni amici = degli amici.

Avoid It After the Preposition Di

Two di in a row sound wrong, so after di (or a verb that takes di, such as avere bisogno di) use un po' di or no article instead of the partitive.

Ho bisogno di un po' di pane.

I need a bit of bread.

avere bisogno di + un po' di or a bare noun.

Common Mistakes with Partitive Article

Incorrect: Vorrei del zucchero. (I'd like some sugar.)

Correct: Vorrei dello zucchero. (I'd like some sugar.)

Zucchero takes lo, so the partitive is dello. The partitive always follows the definite article rules.

Incorrect: Ho qualche amici. (I have a few friends.)

Correct: Ho qualche amico. (I have a few friends.)

Qualche always takes a singular noun. If you want the plural, use alcuni amici or degli amici.

Incorrect: Non ho dei soldi. (I don't have any money.)

Correct: Non ho soldi. (I don't have any money.)

In negative sentences Italian normally drops the partitive. English any has no equivalent word here.

Incorrect: Ho bisogno di dell'acqua. (I need some water.)

Correct: Ho bisogno di un po' d'acqua. (I need some water.)

Di cannot be followed by another di. After avere bisogno di, use un po' di or a bare noun: ho bisogno di acqua.

Alternatives to the Partitive

Italian has three other common ways to say some. Each one fits a slightly different situation.

Un po' di (a bit of)

Un po' di is the everyday choice for a small amount of something uncountable. It never changes form.

Vuoi un po' di tè?: Would you like a bit of tea?
Aggiungi un po' di sale.: Add a little salt.

Po' always has an apostrophe, not an accent: it is short for poco.

Alcuni and alcune (a few, some)

Alcuni (masculine) and alcune (feminine) are used with plural countable nouns. They sound slightly more precise than dei and delle.

Ho alcune domande.: I have a few questions.
Alcuni miei amici vivono all'estero.: Some of my friends live abroad.

Before a possessive, alcuni needs no article: alcuni miei amici. Alcuni dei miei amici is also common.

Qualche (some, a few)

Qualche goes with a singular noun but has a plural meaning. It does not change for gender.

Resto qualche giorno.: I'm staying a few days.
Hai qualche idea?: Do you have any ideas?

Qualche is used only with countable nouns. For uncountable nouns, use un po' di.

Quick Check: Partitive Article

Fill each gap with a partitive article, qualche, or nothing at all.

1. Vorrei ___ acqua.

Answer: dell'

acqua is feminine and starts with a vowel

2. Ho comprato ___ spinaci.

Answer: degli

s + consonant, masculine plural

3. Ci sono ___ problemi.

Answer: dei

masculine plural before a plain consonant

4. Non ho ___ soldi.

Answer: nothing (non ho soldi)

negatives drop the partitive

5. Ho ___ amico in Italia. (a few)

Answer: qualche

qualche + singular noun

Partitive Article FAQs

What is the partitive article in Italian?: It is the Italian way to say some: del pane (some bread), dell'acqua (some water), degli amici (some friends). Its forms are di plus the definite article: del, dello, dell', della, dei, degli, delle.
How do you say some in Italian?: With the partitive article (del pane, delle mele), with un po' di for small amounts (un po' di sale), with alcuni or alcune for plural countable nouns (alcuni libri), or with qualche plus a singular noun (qualche libro). In many sentences you can also leave some out completely.
Is the partitive article required in Italian?: No. In positive sentences it is usually optional: compro del pane and compro pane are both correct. In negative sentences it is normally left out: non compro pane. In the plural it is the most common way to say some.
What is the difference between the partitive del and the preposition di?: They have the same form but different jobs. In ho comprato del pane, del means some. In il colore del pane, del means of the. The context always makes it clear.
What is the difference between alcuni, qualche, and dei?: All three mean some or a few with countable nouns. Dei, degli, and delle are the most neutral. Alcuni and alcune sound slightly more precise. Qualche takes a singular noun: qualche amico means the same as alcuni amici.