Italian Phrase
Poi preparo la cena.
Meaning
Literally, 'Then I prepare the dinner.' It is used to state what you will do after something else, often in a daily‑routine narration.
When to use
Use this sentence when you are describing the order of your activities, especially after work, after school, or after another meal. It works well in informal conversation and in written diaries or blogs about your day.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Poipreparolacena
Poi (adverb)
Indicates a subsequent action in a sequence, similar to 'then' or 'after that' in English.
preparo (verb)
First‑person singular present of *preparare*, a regular -are verb meaning 'to prepare' or 'to cook'.
la cena (noun phrase)
Definite article + noun; *cena* means 'dinner' (the main evening meal).
🗨In Conversation
Che fai dopo il lavoro?
What are you doing after work?
Poi preparo la cena.
Then I’ll prepare dinner.
✕Common Mistakes
Poi preparo cena.
The definite article is required; you cannot drop it in standard Italian.
Poi preparo le cena.
Cena is singular feminine, so the correct article is *la*, not *le*.
Poi preparo la cena? (when referring to third person)
If you want to talk about someone else, you need to conjugate the verb accordingly (e.g., *prepara* for he/she).
↔Alternatives
Dopo, preparo la cena.
Afterwards, I prepare dinner.
Poi cucino la cena.
Then I cook dinner.
Successivamente preparo la cena.
Subsequently I prepare dinner.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, *cena* is typically eaten later than in many other countries, often between 8 pm and 10 pm. Mentioning *preparo la cena* can also imply you’ll be cooking a more elaborate, family‑style meal rather than just heating something up.