dopo di Lei
/ˈdo.po di ˈlɛ.i/word by word
The Italian phrase for "after you" is dopo di Lei.
This phrase is used as a polite invitation for another person to go first. You might also use the phrase Prego, faccia pure to mean "Please, go ahead" or "After you, please".
Meaning: polite invitation for another to go first (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of dopo (after), di (of) and Lei (the formal version of "you").
Which one should you use?
While dopo di Lei is the formal version, you should use dopo di te when speaking to a friend, a family member or someone you address with "tu". You can also use Dopo di te, amico to say "After you, friend".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form dopo di Lei is used in formal settings, such as with strangers, elders or in professional environments. For example, you can say Dopo di voi, signor/signora to mean "After you, sir/madam". In informal situations, use dopo di te.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈdo.po di ˈlɛ.i/. It has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The phrase uses Lei, which is grammatically feminine, even if you are being polite to a man. This quirk of the language means the gender of the person is irrelevant to the pronoun used.
- The formal 'you' in dopo di Lei actually stems from a historical way of addressing high-ranking titles like 'Excellency' or 'Magnificence'. It essentially treats the person you are talking to as a formal entity.
Examples in context
- Dopo di lei.After you.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase dopo di Lei.Tatoeba #5180970 by Guybrush88, translation #505870 by wma
- Prego, faccia pure.Please, go ahead.
- Prego, dopo di Lei.Please, after you.
- Entri pure, dopo di Lei.Please go in, after you.
Example conversation
Matteo and Giulia are entering a restaurant.
- MatteoPrego, dopo di Lei, Giulia.Please, after you, Giulia.
- GiuliaGrazie, Matteo, sei molto gentile.Thank you, Matteo, you are very kind.
- MatteoNon c'è di che.You're welcome.
- GiuliaEntriamo insieme.Let's go in together.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (dopo, di, Lei) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Lei, di, dopo, lei, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
