How to Give Instructions in Italian: First, Then, Next, Finally
Learn Italian sequence words like prima, poi, dopo and infine to give clear step-by-step instructions in everyday situations.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you give instructions in Italian, the order of the steps matters as much as the verbs. This lesson teaches the connectors that move a listener from one action to the next: prima, poi, dopo and infine. You will use them with familiar tu-form imperatives, such as taglia, aggiungi and mescola, to build short, natural sequences. The focus is on sequencing, not on listing ingredients or objects. By the end, you will be able to explain a simple recipe, a household task or a set of directions in a clear order.
By the end, you can…
- use prima, poi, dopo and infine to order steps in Italian.
- give a short set of instructions using familiar tu-form imperatives.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Prima, taglia le verdure.
First, cut the vegetables.
PREE-mah, TAHL-yah leh VEHR-doo-reh
Use prima to mark the first step. The comma after prima is common when it opens a sentence.
Poi, aggiungi il sale.
Then, add the salt.
poy, ahd-JOON-jee eel SAH-leh
Poi is the most common neutral 'then'. It can also mean 'later' when it stands alone.
Dopo, mescola tutto.
After that, mix everything.
DOH-poh, MEHS-koh-lah TOOT-toh
Dopo at the start of a sentence means 'after that'. Do not confuse it with dopo di che, which is slightly more formal.
Infine, lascia riposare per dieci minuti.
Finally, leave it to rest for ten minutes.
een-FEE-neh, LAH-shah ree-poh-ZAH-reh pehr DYEH-chee mee-NOO-tee
Infine signals the last step in a sequence. In speech, alla fine is also common and slightly more relaxed.
Prima si taglia, poi si aggiunge il sale.
First you cut, then you add the salt.
PREE-mah see TAHL-yah, poy see ahd-JOON-jeh eel SAH-leh
Use the si impersonale when you give general instructions without naming a person. It is common in recipes and written directions.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Italian sequence words usually come at the start of a clause and are followed by a comma: Prima, ... Poi, ... Dopo, ... Infine, ... The verb often follows in the tu imperative for one person: Prima, taglia le verdure. Poi, aggiungi il sale. Dopo, mescola tutto. Infine, lascia riposare. For general instructions, replace the tu form with the si impersonale: Prima si taglia, poi si aggiunge il sale. Note that dopo can also be a preposition meaning 'after': dopo cena, dopo la lezione. At the start of a step, however, it works as a sequence word.
When to use it
Use prima for the first step, poi for the next step, dopo for a later step, and infine for the last step. In everyday speech, many speakers use poi more than once and save infine for the final action. Alla fine is a common informal alternative to infine: Alla fine, lascia riposare. If you are giving directions, you can combine sequence words with direction phrases: Prima vai dritto, poi gira a destra, dopo cento metri gira a sinistra, infine attraversa la piazza. Keep the tu imperative for one person and use the voi imperative for a group: Prima tagliate le verdure, poi aggiungete il sale.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Come si prepara questa insalata?
How do you make this salad?KOH-meh see preh-PAH-rah KWEHS-tah een-sah-LAH-tahPrima, lava la lattuga. Poi, taglia i pomodori.
First, wash the lettuce. Then, cut the tomatoes.PREE-mah, LAH-vah lah laht-TOO-gah. poy, TAHL-yah ee poh-moh-DOH-reeE dopo? Cosa faccio?
And after that? What do I do?eh DOH-poh? KOH-zah FAH-chohDopo, aggiungi l'olio. Infine, mescola tutto.
After that, add the oil. Finally, mix everything.DOH-poh, ahd-JOON-jee LOH-lyoh. een-FEE-neh, MEHS-koh-lah TOOT-tohA little context goes a long way
In Italian recipes and instructions, sequence words are often accompanied by the si impersonale, especially in writing: Prima si taglia, poi si aggiunge. In conversation, speakers may use the tu imperative with a friend or the voi imperative with a group. Infine is standard and slightly formal; alla fine is common in relaxed speech. Regional usage varies: in some southern varieties, poi can be reinforced with mo' or appresso, but standard Italian uses poi and dopo.
One thing to watch for
Using dopo as the first word for the first step: Dopo, taglia le verdure.
Try this instead: Use prima for the first step: Prima, taglia le verdure. Dopo means 'after that' and belongs to a later step. If you want to say 'after cutting', use dopo aver tagliato: Dopo aver tagliato le verdure, aggiungi il sale.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'First, wash the lettuce' using a tu imperative?
Show a sample answer
Prima, lava la lattuga.
Prima marks the first step, and lava is the tu imperative of lavare. Prima, lavi la lattuga would be a statement, not an instruction.
2Which word best introduces the final step: poi or infine?
Show a sample answer
Infine.
Infine signals the last step. Poi is a general 'then' and can appear more than once, so it does not guarantee the final position. Alla fine is also acceptable in informal speech.
3Turn 'Prima, taglia le verdure' into a general instruction with si.
Show a sample answer
Prima si tagliano le verdure.
The si impersonale takes the third-person verb. With a plural object, the verb agrees in the plural: si tagliano le verdure. Prima si taglia le verdure is common in speech but less standard in careful writing.
Use prima for the first step, poi and dopo for the middle steps, and infine or alla fine for the last step, keeping your verbs in the tu, voi or si form that fits your listener.
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