prima
before
In Italian, 'prima' is used to indicate a time preceding a certain point or event. It can be used just as the English word 'before' is used: in time clauses, comparisons, and sequence of events.
Example sentences using: prima
Prima di tutto, dobbiamo parlare.
First of all, we need to talk.
In this phrase, 'prima di tutto' is used to emphasize that the speaker sees a specific task as the most important or need to be done before anything else.
Prima o poi dovrai prenderne atto.
Sooner or later, you will have to realize it.
The phrase 'prima o poi' is used to indicate that something will certainly happen at an unspecified future time, similar to 'sooner or later' in English.
Hai finito tutta la torta prima del mio ritorno.
You finished all the cake before my return.
Here, 'prima' is used to express the idea of 'before', highlighting that the action of finishing the cake happened before another action, which is the speaker's return.