Italian Phrase
Chi esce per primo?
Meaning
Literally ‘Who goes out first?’, this question asks which person will be the first to leave a place, exit a room, or finish a task before anyone else.
When to use
Use it when a group is about to leave a venue, when you’re waiting in line and want to know who will be the first to step out, or in a playful context like a game where the first mover matters.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Chiesceperprimo
Chi (who)
Interrogative pronoun used to ask about a person; it does not change with gender or number.
esce (verb)
Third‑person singular present of uscire (to go out/leave); used here to refer to the person being asked about.
per primo (first)
Fixed expression meaning ‘first’; ‘primo’ stays masculine because it refers to the implied masculine noun ‘uno’ (one).
🗨In Conversation
Chi esce per primo?
Who goes out first?
Io, se vuoi. Devo solo prendere le chiavi.
Me, if you like. I just need to grab the keys.
✕Common Mistakes
Chi esce per prima?
‘Prima’ is an adverb meaning ‘earlier’; the correct idiom for ‘first’ is ‘per primo’.
Chi esce primo?
The preposition ‘per’ is required; omitting it changes the meaning.
Chi escono per primo?
If you want to ask about a group, you need the plural verb ‘escono’: ‘Chi esce per primo?’ is singular, so use ‘Chi esce…’ only for one person.
↔Alternatives
Chi è il primo a uscire?
Who is the first to go out?
Chi parte per primo?
Who leaves first?
Cultural Tip
In Italian, ‘uscire’ is the verb most commonly used for leaving a place, while ‘esce’ (third‑person) is perfect for a quick question. Remember that ‘primo’ stays masculine even if you’re referring to a woman, because it modifies the implied noun ‘uno/una’. In informal settings you can also hear ‘Chi esce prima?’ which is less formal but still understood.