prima

before; first; earlier

adverb PREE-mah Common

Origin: Latin prima (first, feminine of primus)

Usage Note

Prima as an adverb means 'before' or 'earlier' — è arrivato prima (he arrived earlier). As a preposition it is always followed by di: prima di partire (before leaving), prima delle tre (before three o'clock). Do not confuse with the adjective primo/prima (first in sequence). The phrase prima o poi means 'sooner or later'.

Examples

"Finisci i compiti prima di cena."

Natural Translation

Finish your homework before dinner.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Italian Diminutives: -ino, -etto, -one Explained

Italian diminutives like -ino, -etto, and -one signal size, affection, or contempt. Learn to read the feeling, dodge gender flips, and spot false diminutives.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Adjective Agreement & Placement Made Simple

Italian adjectives agree in gender and number and usually sit after the noun. Master the -o/-a/-i/-e endings, the BAGS rule, and meaning-shifting pairs.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Numbers 1 to 100: Count Like a Local

Learn Italian numbers 1 to 100 by mastering 0-20, the tens, and 3 spelling rules so you can generate any number from ventuno to novantanove on demand.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian False Friends: 20 Words That Trick You

Italian false friends like preservativo, parenti, and caldo mean the opposite of what English speakers expect. Here are 20 ranked by how badly they bite.

June 5, 2026 6 min read