I'm interested in how do natives think in English. When

a cup or the cup if someone points it out specifically

I'm more of a visual person and I recognize the object. Or I think "that's a(n) [adjective] [noun]"

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>>74479677
I may be autistic but I tend to try and identify what kind of cup it is.

If I see it I already have it internalized what it is and I won't even think of the word cup at all, rather I'll piece different descriptive words together associated with this specific cup almost to try and differentiate this cup from any other cup, or the most ordinary of cups.

All of this is done without actually actively trying to do this, it's like breathing.

>>74479677
If you pointed at a cup and asked "what is this" I would say a cup

>>74479787
That's a mug

>>74479677
it exists as an object with several names unti lgiven prupose of action or thought. if i look at it, no word appears in my head, it merely is "cup" the thing that hasn't fully realised itself. As said by others, if asked it becomes "a cup", if used it becomes "the cup" as well or instead of, etc. I dont think things become things mentally until they are needed, else your brain would be slowed down by constant concious recognition of objects and their purpose.

>>74479829
Functionally it is a cup, nice to see that we think similarly though.

>>74479829
Your a mug

Thank you, guys, for your answers!
The thing is that in my native tongue (Russian) there is no articles at all, so when I see a cup it is just "cup (чaшкa)" for me.

The situation is when you are not being asked about/pointed to a cup. Imagine you sitting in your kitchen and looking at different objects in there.

I thought you ate using articles when describing something to someone, not when you thinking of it by yourself and for the first time.

>>74480111
>ate
are*

>>74480111
>>74480128
a cup