a
/a/
The English word "at" is translated into Italian as a. Wiktionary also lists in.
Meaning: in or very near a particular place (prep)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| a | /a/ |
| in | /in/ |
The preposition a is a common way to express being "at" a particular place or a specific point.
Which one should you use?
The preposition a is used for specific locations or points. In contrast, in is typically used to indicate being inside a space or within a country.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, particularly in the north, people use the preposition in instead of a to indicate "at" in certain cases.
How does it change in a sentence?
Examples of these combinations include al (a + il) and alla (a + la).
How do you pronounce it?
/a/
Did you know?
- Because of its origins in Latin, the preposition a can sometimes be found in phrases where it stems from 'ab', a word that originally meant 'away from'.
- When Italians say they are 'at home' a casa, the phrase can also be used as a metaphor for feeling comfortable or in one's element in any situation.
Examples in context
- Lui è a casa?Is he at home?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is at home using a.Tatoeba #1255735 by Guybrush88, translation #294392 by CK
- Lui è a casa.He is at home.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is at home using a.Tatoeba #1259989 by Guybrush88, translation #816868 by Cindrogriza
- Non è a casa.He isn't at home.Tatoeba #1948219 by Guybrush88, translation #1842272 by BraveSentry
- Sono a casaI am at home
- Ci vediamo alle 4We'll meet at 4 o'clock
- Vendono i biglietti a 10 euroThey sell tickets at 10 euros each
- Presso l'ufficio del sindacoAt the mayor's office
- Ci vediamo in piazzaWe'll meet at/in the square
- Lavoro in un barI work at/in a bar
- Sono nel giardinoI am at/in the garden
- Studio all'universitàI study at the university
- L'incontro è al ristoranteThe meeting is at the restaurant
- 12580 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alessandro and Giulia are deciding where to meet.
- AlessandroCi vediamo a scuola domani?Shall we meet at school tomorrow?
- GiuliaSì, sono già a scuola adesso.Yes, I am already at school now.
- AlessandroAspettami a teatro alle cinque.Wait for me at the theater at five.
- GiuliaVa bene, a dopo Alessandro!All right, see you later Alessandro!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “at” translations and entries a, in, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, in, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
