"before" in seven languages
Meaningbefore
Spanish
antes
/ˈantes/
inherited
The -s is an adverbial ending; before a noun: antes de.
French
avant
/avɑ̃/
inherited
From AB ANTE.
Italian
prima
/ˈprima/
other source · Latin PRĪMA 'first'
Before a noun: prima di. Avanti means 'forward; come in!'
Portuguese
antes
/ˈɐ̃tʃis/
inherited
Romanian
înainte
/ɨnaˈinte/
inherited
Built from IN + AB + ANTE, like French avant (AB ANTE) with one more prefix.
Catalan
abans
/əˈbans/
inherited
English
before
/bɪˈfɔɹ/
native English · Old English beforan
English → ItalianbeforeprimaNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: ante-, anterior, advance, advantage.What English and Italian share
The Latin ancestor
ANTE‘before, in front of’
All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.
The story
Spanish and French grew 'before' from ANTE; Italian says 'first' (prima di cena, 'before dinner') and keeps avanti for 'forward'.
English relatives: ante-, anterior, advance, advantage
Learn it
In a sentence
- esLávate las manos antes de cenar.
- frLave-toi les mains avant le dîner.
- itLavati le mani prima di cena.
- ptLave as mãos antes do jantar.
- roSpală-te pe mâini înainte de cină.
- caRenta't les mans abans de sopar.
- enWash your hands before dinner.