Learn Italian: Gli orfani adorano la loro matrigna. - The orphans adore their stepmother.

Gli orfani adorano la loro matrigna.

The orphans adore their stepmother.

Breakdown of Gli orfani adorano la loro matrigna.

loro

their

her/it (direct object)

Questions & Answers about Gli orfani adorano la loro matrigna.

Why is there a definite article (la) before loro matrigna? I thought singular family members didn't use articles with possessives.

You are right that singular family members usually drop the definite article, like in mia madre. However, the possessive loro (their) is a major exception to this rule. It always keeps the article, regardless of whether it is modifying a family member or not. Therefore, it must be la loro matrigna.

If the sentence used sua instead of loro, would it drop the article and just be sua matrigna?

Actually, it would still keep the article and be la sua matrigna. While core family members drop the article, step-relatives and derived family terms with suffixes like -igno or -astro (such as matrigna or fratellastro) are another exception to the family rule. They always keep the definite article, even with normal possessives like sua or mia.

Does the word matrigna have a negative fairy-tale connotation in Italian?

Yes, it does! Because of classic fairy tales, matrigna often carries a harsh or wicked connotation. While it is the standard dictionary word for stepmother, many modern Italians prefer to use a descriptive phrase like la nuova moglie di mio padre (my father's new wife) in everyday conversation to avoid that negative vibe.