di + Material
'Di' for Material
In Italian, the preposition di is the standard way to indicate the material or substance of an object (e.g., di legno, d'oro).
How It Works
The preposition di identifies the composition of an object (complemento di materia).
1. The Bare Noun Rule
When specifying a material, the noun following di is usually 'bare,' meaning it does not take an article. You say di plastica (of plastic), not della plastica. The article usually comes back when the material is further described by an adjective or clause (e.g., la sedia del legno più pregiato).
2. Elision (d')
When the material starts with a vowel, di usually undergoes elision to become d'. This is common with materials like oro (gold), argento (silver), or acciaio (steel).
- Un anello d'oro (A gold ring)
- Una statua d'avorio (An ivory statue)
3. Figurative Use
This pattern is also used for metaphorical descriptions of character or quality.
- Un cuore di pietra (A heart of stone)
- Una salute di ferro (Iron health / very strong health)
4. 'Di' vs. 'In'
In modern Italian, both di and in are widely used to describe materials. While di is the traditional choice, in is extremely common in everyday speech, especially when talking about furniture, clothing, or construction.
- Un tavolo in legno (A wooden table)
- Una camicia in seta (A silk shirt)
Examples (5)
- Ho comprato un tavolo di legno per la cucina.
I bought a wooden table for the kitchen.
Word by Word: I have bought a table of wood for the kitchen.
Here, 'di legno' describes the material of the table. Note that 'legno' has no article.
- Maria indossa sempre una collana d'argento.
Maria always wears a silver necklace.
Word by Word: Maria wears always a necklace of silver.
Because 'argento' starts with a vowel, 'di' becomes 'd'' through elision.
- Questa borsa è di pelle vera, non di plastica.
This bag is made of real leather, not plastic.
Word by Word: This bag is of leather real, not of plastic.
Standard usage of 'di' to contrast two different materials.
- Mio nonno ha una volontà di ferro.
My grandfather has a will of iron.
Word by Word: My grandfather has a will of iron.
An example of the figurative use of the material complement to describe character.
- Preferisco le bottiglie di vetro a quelle di plastica.
I prefer glass bottles to plastic ones.
Word by Word: I prefer the bottles of glass to those of plastic.
Using 'di' to specify the substance of the containers.
Common Mistakes
Using a definite article with the material.
Un tavolo del legno.Un tavolo di legno.Materials are treated as generic substances in this construction, so the article is omitted. However, the article returns if the material is specific, such as 'il tavolo del legno migliore' (the table made of the best wood).
Not an error: it means something different.
Different MeaningUn bicchiere di vino.Un bicchiere da vino.'Un bicchiere di vino' means 'a glass of wine' (the content). 'Un bicchiere da vino' means 'a wine glass' (the type). Use 'di' for the material (un bicchiere di vetro) and 'da' for the purpose.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'di' for materials, you first need to understand how simple prepositions function in Italian. It is also helpful to be familiar with basic noun structures and the most common use of 'di' (possession), as the syntax for describing what something is made of follows the same pattern.
Related Patterns
- Simple Prepositions
'Di' is one of the basic simple prepositions used to link nouns.
Level 1 - Elision
Explains why 'di' becomes 'd'' before materials starting with a vowel like 'oro' or 'argento'.
Level 1 - per + Destination / Purpose'Per' (Destination, Purpose, Duration)
Useful for contrasting material (di) with the purpose or destination (per/da) of an object.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice di + Material in Bubblegum
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