Languages › Italian Italian Preposition Su La Preposizione Su in Italiano Print Bottle of Chianti Classico wine on top of wall. David Epperson / Getty Images Italian Grammar History & Culture Vocabulary By Michael San Filippo Michael San Filippo Italian Expert M.A., Italian Studies, Middlebury College B.A., Biology, Northeastern University Michael San Filippo co-wrote The Complete Idiot's Guide to Italian History and Culture. He is a tutor of Italian language and culture. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on November 04, 2019 Like all of the other prepositions in Italian, like "per" or "da", "su" can have many shades of meaning, however it generally expresses the concept of being above (or on top of) of something, indicates how close something is or gives an estimate. In English, it can be translated as: OnUponOntoOn topOverAboutAbove Here are the various ways in which “su” can be used in Italian. USAGE #1: LOCATION, PLACE (STATO IN LUOGO) Il libro è sul tavolo. - The book is on the table.Un neo sulla guancia - A mark on the cheekSiediti su questa poltrona. - Sit on this armchair.Una casa sul mare - A house on the (near/by the) seaBenvenuto sul mio blog! - Welcome to my blog! In terms of location, “su” can also refer to a sphere of influence or authority: Napoleon esercitava il suo dominio su molti popoli. - Napoleon exercised his rule over many communities. USAGE #2: MOVEMENT TO A PLACE (MOTO A LUOGO) Andiamo sul terrazzo. - Let’s go on the terrace.Rimetti la penna sulla mia scrivania. - Put the pen back on my desk.Le finestre guardano sul giardino. - The windows look out toward the garden.La pioggia batte sui vetri. - The rain beats against the windows. USAGE #3: TOPIC, THEME (ARGOMENTO) Read More Italian Language Lessons: Italian Prepositions Per, Su, Con, Fra/Tra By Michael San Filippo Hanno discusso sulla situazione economica. - They discussed the economic situation. Leggo un libro sulla storia Italiana. - I’m reading a book on Italian history. Una mostra sul Rinascimento fiorentino - A Florentine Renaissance show È un problema su cui non ho il minimo controllo. - It’s a problem over which I don’t have the slightest control. USAGE #4: FIXED TIME (TEMPO DETERMINATO) Vediamoci sul tardi. - We’ll see each other later.Sul far del mattino, della sera - Around morning, around evening USAGE #6: CONTINUOUS TIME (TEMPO CONTINUATO) Ho lavorato sulle cinque ore. - I worked for around five hours.Rimarrò fuori casa sui quindici giorni. - I’ll be out of the house for about fifteen days. USAGE #7: AGE (ETÀ) Un uomo sui quarant'anni - A man in his fortiesUna signora sulla cinquantina - A woman in her fifties USAGE #8: ESTIMATE, PRICE (STIMA, PREZZO) Costa sulle diecimila lire. - It costs around 10,000 lira. USAGE #9: QUANTITY, MEASURE (QUANTITÀ, MISURA) Peso sui settanta chili. - I weigh around seventy kilograms. USAGE #9: WAY, MATTER, MODE (MODO) Lavorare su ordinazione - Custom workUn abito su misura - Tailor-made USAGE #10: DISTRIBUTIVE (DISTRIBUTIVO) 10 donne su mille - Ten women out of a thousandLavoro cinque giorni su sette. - I work five out of seven days. Verbs that Take “Su” Saltare su - To get on (some type of transportation)Informare su - To inform aboutRiflettere su - To reflect onConcentrare(si) su - To concentrate onFare ricerca su qualcosa - To do research on something Popular Expressions Sul serio? - Seriously?Su questo non ci piove. - There’s no doubt about it.Essere sulla stessa lunghezza d’onda - To be on the same wavelength Prepositional Articles With "Su" When followed by a definite article, "su" is combined with the article to give the following combined forms known as articulated prepositions (preposizioni articolate): Le Preposizioni Articolate Con "Su" PREPOSIZONE ARTICOLO DETERMINATIVO PREPOSIZIONI ARTICOLATE su il sul su lo sullo su l' sull'* su i sui su gli sugli su la sulla su le sulle *This form is only used when the word following begins with a vowel, like “frasi sull’amore - phrases about love”. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Filippo, Michael San. "Italian Preposition Su." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/italian-preposition-su-2011462. Filippo, Michael San. (2023, April 5). Italian Preposition Su. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/italian-preposition-su-2011462 Filippo, Michael San. "Italian Preposition Su." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/italian-preposition-su-2011462 (accessed April 18, 2024). copy citation By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies