Italian Phrase
Esci prima.
Meaning
‘Esci prima.’ translates to ‘You leave first.’ It is a short, direct way to tell someone that they should go out before the speaker, often used in informal settings.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to ask or tell a friend, family member, or colleague to exit a room, a party, a meeting, or any shared space before you do. It works well in casual conversation, but add ‘per favore’ for politeness in more formal contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Esciprima
uscire (esci)
‘Uscire’ means ‘to go out/leave’. ‘Esci’ is the second‑person singular (tu) present indicative form.
prima (adverb)
‘Prima’ is an adverb meaning ‘first’ or ‘before’. Placed after the verb it modifies the timing of the action.
Word order
In Italian the adverb usually follows the verb (Esci prima) but can also appear at the beginning for emphasis (Prima esci).
🗨In Conversation
Esci prima, così posso finire il lavoro.
You leave first, so I can finish the work.
Va bene, ti aspetto fuori.
Alright, I'll wait for you outside.
✕Common Mistakes
Esce prima.
‘Esce’ is the formal 3rd‑person singular; use ‘esci’ when speaking to a friend (tu).
Prima esci.
While grammatically possible, ‘Prima esci’ sounds poetic and can be confusing in everyday speech; stick to ‘Esci prima.’
Esci prima di.
‘Di’ is unnecessary unless you specify what you’re comparing to (e.g., ‘esci prima di me’).
↔Alternatives
Vai via prima.
Go away first.
Esci prima di me.
Leave before me.
Puoi uscire prima?
Can you leave first?
Cultural Tip
In Italian, direct commands can sound abrupt, so it’s common to soften them with ‘per favore’ or a friendly tone. Also, remember that the formal ‘you’ (Lei) uses ‘esce’ – ‘Esce prima?’ – when speaking to strangers or superiors. In the south of Italy you’ll hear the contraction ‘esci prima’ spoken very quickly, almost sounding like ‘esci’ + ‘prima’ blended together.