dietro a
Behind
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'dietro a' to describe something located at the back or rear of another object.
- Means: 'Behind' or 'at the back of' in a physical space.
- Used in: Giving directions, describing rooms, or finding lost objects.
- Don't confuse: 'Dietro' (space) with 'Dopo' (time/sequence).
Explanation at your level:
Significado
Indicating spatial position.
Contexto cultural
In old Italian cities, 'dietro' often refers to the hidden courtyards (cortili) that are not visible from the street. These are private oases for residents. The phrase 'dietro le quinte' is used exactly like 'behind the scenes'. Italy has a rich history of cinema (Cinecittà), and this phrase is common in media. In Italy, being 'dietro' in a line (fare la coda) is a social art. People often ask 'Chi è l'ultimo?' to know who they are behind. There's an old superstition about not looking 'dietro le spalle' (behind one's shoulders) in certain contexts, similar to 'don't look back'.
The 'A' Rule
If you're unsure, using 'dietro a' + article is almost always correct and sounds very natural.
Pronoun Alert
Don't say 'dietro a me'. Say 'dietro di me'. It's a small change that makes a huge difference.
Significado
Indicating spatial position.
The 'A' Rule
If you're unsure, using 'dietro a' + article is almost always correct and sounds very natural.
Pronoun Alert
Don't say 'dietro a me'. Say 'dietro di me'. It's a small change that makes a huge difference.
Dropping the 'A'
In fast, casual speech, you can drop the 'a'. 'Dietro la porta' is very common in Italy.
Queue Etiquette
When in a line, always look 'dietro' to see who is following you; it's polite to acknowledge the next person.
Teste-se
Fill in the blank with the correct form (dietro, dietro a, dietro al, etc.).
Il gatto dorme ______ divano.
We need the articulated preposition 'al' (a + il) because 'divano' is a masculine singular noun.
Which sentence is correct for 'He is behind me'?
Choose the best option:
With personal pronouns, 'dietro' usually takes 'di'.
Match the sentence to the correct context.
Sentence: 'C'è un grande studio dietro a questo libro.'
This refers to the work put into writing the book, not its physical position.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Scusi, dov'è il bagno? B: È ______ quella porta marrone.
'Porta' is feminine, so we use 'alla' (a + la).
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Dietro vs. Dopo
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasYes, 'dietro la casa' is perfectly acceptable and very common in spoken Italian.
Yes, 'dietro di me' is the standard grammatical form for pronouns.
Use the idiom 'dietro le quinte'.
Only in a spatial sense. If you mean 'the back of a person', use 'schiena'. If you mean 'return', use 'indietro'.
No, use 'dopo' for time sequences.
The opposite is 'davanti a' (in front of).
It is neutral. It can be used in any context.
Dietro al palazzo or Dietro il palazzo.
'Di dietro' usually refers to the back part of an object as a noun phrase.
Yes, like 'I am behind you' (Ti sostengo / Sono dietro di te).
Frases relacionadas
davanti a
contrastin front of
accanto a
similarnext to
indietro
builds onback / backwards
di dietro
specialized formfrom behind / the back part
alle spalle di
synonymbehind the back of
dietro le quinte
specialized formbehind the scenes
Onde usar
Finding a car in a parking lot
A: Dove hai parcheggiato?
B: Proprio lì, dietro a quella macchina rossa.
At the cinema
A: Non vedo niente!
B: Certo, sei seduto dietro a un gigante!
In a restaurant queue
A: Scusi, chi è l'ultimo?
B: Io. Lei si metta dietro a me.
Talking about a movie production
A: Il film è bellissimo.
B: Sì, c'è un lavoro enorme dietro a ogni scena.
Giving directions to a tourist
Tourist: Scusi, dov'è il museo?
Local: È proprio dietro all'ufficio postale, non può sbagliare.
Looking for a pet
A: Hai visto il cane?
B: Sì, è scappato dietro al gatto del vicino!
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'DIET'—you want to leave your old weight 'DIET-ro' (behind) you!
Visual Association
Imagine a giant Italian 'A' standing behind a house. The 'A' is hiding, so it's 'dietro a'.
Rhyme
Se cerchi il gatto e non sai dov'è, guarda dietro al caffè!
Story
Marco is playing hide and seek. He runs 'dietro alla' fountain. He sees his friend 'dietro al' tree. They both hide 'dietro a' a big Italian flag.
Word Web
Desafio
Look around your room right now. Name 5 things that are 'dietro a' something else in Italian.
In Other Languages
detrás de
Spanish always requires 'de', Italian prefers 'a' or nothing for nouns.
derrière
French is a single word; Italian often uses the 'dietro a' pair.
hinter
German grammar changes the following article's case; Italian just uses 'a'.
...no ushiro ni
The word order is reversed compared to Italian.
wara'a
No equivalent to the 'a' bridge in Italian.
zai... hou mian
Requires two parts to surround the noun.
...dwi-e
It's a noun-based construction placed after the object.
atrás de
Uses 'de' like Spanish, whereas Italian uses 'a'.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'dietro' for time sequences.
Use 'dietro' for things you can touch or see in space; use 'dopo' for things on a clock or calendar.
Learners use 'dietro' for the action of returning.
Use 'indietro' with verbs of motion like 'tornare' or 'andare'.
Perguntas frequentes (10)
Yes, 'dietro la casa' is perfectly acceptable and very common in spoken Italian.
Yes, 'dietro di me' is the standard grammatical form for pronouns.
Use the idiom 'dietro le quinte'.
Only in a spatial sense. If you mean 'the back of a person', use 'schiena'. If you mean 'return', use 'indietro'.
No, use 'dopo' for time sequences.
The opposite is 'davanti a' (in front of).
It is neutral. It can be used in any context.
Dietro al palazzo or Dietro il palazzo.
'Di dietro' usually refers to the back part of an object as a noun phrase.
Yes, like 'I am behind you' (Ti sostengo / Sono dietro di te).
