prima
/ˈpri.ma/
The Italian word for "before" is prima.
prima is the simplest and most common translation for "before" in Italian. It can function as a conjunction meaning "in advance of the time when", an adverb meaning "at an earlier time" or a preposition meaning "earlier than".
Meaning: in advance of the time when (conj)
Which one should you use?
While prima can act as an adverb, you should use prima di when you want to say "before [something/someone]". For a more formal way to say "before", you can use innanzi.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using prima as a preposition followed by a noun or a pronoun, it must be followed by the preposition di (forming prima di). If you are using "before" as a conjunction to introduce a clause containing a verb, use prima che followed by the subjunctive mood. Additionally, the expression Prima di tutto is used to mean "first of all".
Did you know?
- The word prima is also the term for a 'prima ballerina', the lead female dancer in a ballet company.
- In Italian opera, the prima donna was originally the leading lady, but the term now often describes a temperamental person.
- The word prima is the feminine form of the ordinal number 'first', which is why it is used for 'before'.
Examples in context
- È peggio di prima?Is it worse than before?This sentence uses prima to ask if a state is worse than a previous time.Tatoeba #4921177 by Guybrush88, translation #4017010 by CK
- È peggio di prima.It's worse than before.This sentence uses prima to state that a state is worse than a previous time.Tatoeba #8262128 by Guybrush88, translation #3826291 by CK
- Mi ha visto prima?Have you seen me before?This sentence uses prima to ask if someone has seen the speaker at an earlier time.Tatoeba #13352520 by Guybrush88, translation #12008839 by DJ_Saidez
- Prima di uscire, fammi sapere.Before going out, let me know.
- Voglio bere un caffè prima di allenarmi.I want to have a coffee before working out.
- Prima di tutto, bisogna fare una lista della spesa.First of all, we need to make a shopping list.
- Mio fratello è arrivato davanti a me.My brother arrived before me.
- 1917 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro are discussing their dinner plans.
- ChiaraDobbiamo fare la spesa prima di cenare.We need to go shopping before having dinner.
- AlessandroHai ragione, andiamo subito.You are right, let's go now.
- ChiaraLavatevi le mani prima di mangiare.Wash your hands before eating.
- AlessandroSì, Chiara, lo faccio adesso.Yes, Chiara, I'm doing it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “before” translations and entries prima, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries prima, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
