Italian preposition "con" (with)
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Sign up for freeThe preposition con (with) has a lot of uses in Italian but mostly the same translation.
Lesson outline
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Emma S. 
Linda F.
Lucia Maria C.
Oriana D.
Maria Grazia F.
Dajana E.
Rebekka H. 
Domenica D.
Cristiana F.
Marijana S. 
Emma S.
Linda F.
Lucia Maria C.
Oriana D.
Maria Grazia F.
Dajana E.
Rebekka H.
Domenica D.
Literal and figurative company
When con expresses literal or figurative company, it translates as with.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
Stasera vado al cinema con Alberto | Tonight I will go to the cinema with Alberto |
| Vuoi venire con me? | Do you want to come with me? |
Transports
When con introduces means of transports, it usually translates as by. In this case, it is followed by the article.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Federico può venire a casa tua con la bici, con il bus o con la macchina | Federico can come to your place by bike , by bus or by car |
| Giovanna andrà a Parigi con il treno o con l'aereo | Giovanna will go to Paris by train or by plane |
Tools
When con introduces the instrument which you use to do something, it translates as with.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
L'ho tagliato con un coltello | I cut it with a knife |
| I cinesi non mangiano con le posate | Chinese people don't eat with cutlery |
Characteristics
When con expresses a characteristic, it usually translates as with. In some cases, it doesn't translate and it is not included in the sentence.
The noun and/or the adjective indicating the purpose precede the noun they refer to.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Era un uomo con la barba lunga | He was a man with a long beard (He was a long-bearded man) |
| Voglio una casa con un bagno grande | I would like an house with a big bathroom |
Ways
When con expresses a way to do something, it usually translates as with. In most cases, the expression con + noun can be replaced by an adverb.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Con amore | With love (lovely) |
| Con indifferenza | With indifference (indifferently) |
Comparisons
When con introduces a comparison, it translates as with.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Non voglio confrontare la loro situazione con la nostra | I don't want to compare their situation with ours |
| Ho paragonato il tuo computer con il mio | I compared your computer with mine |
Typical expressions
In the following table you can find a list of typical Italian expressions that are introduced by the preposition "con" (mainly with nouns).
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| prendere due piccioni con una fava | to kill two birds with one stone |
| con entusiasmo | enthusiastically |
| con esitazione | hesitantly |
| con gioia | happily, joyfully |
| con il senno di poi | with (the benefit of) hindsight |
| essere con l'acqua alla gola | to be in dire straits |
| starsene con le mani in mano | to sit around |
| con rabbia | angrily |
| con sicurezza | self-assuredly |
| con tutto il cuore | wholeheartedly |
Exercises
Translation of the Italian preposition "con" - Fill in the blanks
Remember!
Translations of con:
- with
- by
Use them in the exercise
1. Quest'anno andrò in Corsica con i miei amici.
This year I'll go to Corsica my friends.
2. Andare a scuola con la bici è una buona scelta.
Going to school bike is a good choice.
3. Miriam vorrebbe mangiare la pasta con il tonno.
Miriam would like to eat pasta tuna.
4. Faccio il mio lavoro con passione.
I am doing my job passion.
5. Vorrei confrontare i miei risultati con i tuoi.
I would like to compare my results yours.
6. Si può raggiungere l'America solo con l'aereo.
We can go to America only plane.
7. Bob è un cane con il pelo lungo.
Bob is a dog long hair.
8. Mi ha scritto questa lettera con amore.
He wrote me this letter love.
9. Guardavo fuori dalla finestra con tristezza.
I looked outside sadness.
10. Scrivete le frasi con la penna.
Write the sentences the pen.
Exercises
Translation of the Italian preposition "con" - Fill in the blanks
Remember!
Translations of con:
- with
- by
Use them in the exercise
1. Quest'anno andrò in Corsica con i miei amici.
This year I'll go to Corsica my friends.
2. Andare a scuola con la bici è una buona scelta.
Going to school bike is a good choice.
3. Miriam vorrebbe mangiare la pasta con il tonno.
Miriam would like to eat pasta tuna.
4. Faccio il mio lavoro con passione.
I am doing my job passion.
5. Vorrei confrontare i miei risultati con i tuoi.
I would like to compare my results yours.
6. Si può raggiungere l'America solo con l'aereo.
We can go to America only plane.
7. Bob è un cane con il pelo lungo.
Bob is a dog long hair.
8. Mi ha scritto questa lettera con amore.
He wrote me this letter love.
9. Guardavo fuori dalla finestra con tristezza.
I looked outside sadness.
10. Scrivete le frasi con la penna.
Write the sentences the pen.