"The sugar is in the cake."

Translation: Lo zucchero è nella torta.

[dedrio1998]

Why can't you say "il zucchero è nella torta"?

[dmmaus]

The article "lo" is used rather than the article "il" before words starting with z. It's similar to how in English we use "an" instead of "a" for words starting with vowels.

[DanielFloresU]

So... we only use "lo" when the next Word starts with "z"?

[dmmaus]

No, there are other cases when "lo" is used:

In front of words starting with "z".
In front of words starting with "s" followed by a consonant (but not a vowel).
In front of words starting with "ps" or "gn" or some other rare combinations of letters (my grammar book doesn't even bother listing them all).

So, "lo zucchero", "lo zio", "lo specchio" (but "la sorella").

[DanielFloresU]

Interesting! Thanks!

[Balgair]

Woah, when is sugar plural?