con

The Preposition "Con" in Italian

In Italian, the preposition con is versatile and corresponds mostly to the English word "with". It is used to link actions to people, instruments, manners, or specific characteristics.

1. Accompaniment (Company)

This is the most common use, indicating who participates in an action or who someone is with.

• Vado al cinema con Luca. (I am going to the cinema with Luca.)
• Parlo con Anna. (I am speaking with Anna.)

2. Means or Instrument

It describes the tool, method, or object used to perform an action or complete a transaction.

• Scrivo con una penna rossa. (I write with a red pen.)
• Pago con un assegno. (I am paying with a check.)

3. Manner

This explains how an action is carried out, often describing the style or attitude of the speaker or performer.

• Parla con accento straniero. (He speaks with a foreign accent.)
• Bisogna parlare con lentezza. (One must speak with slowness / slowly.)

4. Descriptive Quality

It can define a specific characteristic or feature of a person or an object.

• Una signora con i capelli grigi. (A lady with gray hair.)
• Un ragazzo con gli occhiali. (A boy with glasses.)

Note on Combined Forms

While con can combine with articles (e.g., col instead of con il), in modern Italian, it is much more common and perfectly correct to keep them separate: con il, con la, con gli, etc.