dopo
/ˈdo.po/
In Italian, 'after' can be expressed using dopo. Wiktionary also lists poi.
Meaning: behind, later in time, following (adv)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| dopo | /ˈdo.po/ /ˈdɔ.po/ |
| poi | /ˈpɔj/ |
dopo is a versatile word used to mean 'behind', 'later in time' or 'following'. When used as a conjunction, it signifies that the action of its clause takes place before the action of another clause. If you specifically mean 'as a result of', you should use the prepositional phrase per causa di.
Which one should you use?
While dopo is often used as a preposition meaning 'after [something]', poi is the standard adverb used to mean 'then' or 'afterwards' in a sequence of events.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdo.po/. The first of two syllables is stressed.
Did you know?
- In casual Italian, e poi? is often used as a rhetorical question meaning 'and then what?' or 'so what?', used to challenge someone to get to the point of a story.
- When Italians use poi to list things, they often do so in a rapid-fire sequence that functions more like a comma in English than a full stop.
- The Italian word dopo evolved from the Vulgar Latin dē post, adding a prefix to the original Latin root for 'after'.
Examples in context
- È dopo di me.You're after me.This sentence uses dopo to indicate position or sequence relative to 'me'.Tatoeba #5565902 by Guybrush88, translation #2218053 by CK
- È dopo di Tom.You're after Tom.This sentence uses dopo to indicate position or sequence relative to 'Tom'.Tatoeba #5692648 by Guybrush88, translation #2218054 by CK
- È dopo di lei.You're after her.This sentence uses dopo to indicate position or sequence relative to 'her'.Tatoeba #5731449 by Guybrush88, translation #3920387 by CH
- Verrò dopo la riunioneI will come after the meeting
- La decisione viene presa dopo un'attenta valutazioneThe decision is made after careful consideration
- In seguito alla mia richiesta, mi è stato concesso un permessoAfter my request, I was granted permission
- Andiamo a cena e dopodiché possiamo vedere un filmLet's go for dinner, and after that, we can watch a movie
- Ci vediamo dopodomani per il pranzoLet's meet for lunch the day after tomorrow
- 1472 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Martina are discussing their plans for the afternoon.
- FrancescoCi vediamo dopo?Shall we see each other later?
- MartinaSì, dopo la lezione.Yes, after the lesson.
- FrancescoVa bene, ti aspetto lì.Okay, I will wait for you there.
- MartinaA dopo, Francesco!See you later, Francesco!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “after” translations and entries dopo, poi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dopo, poi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
