Learn Greek › B1 › πρίν
πρίν
before /prin/
adverbB1#1631 most common
Also: until, formerly
Example sentences
Φύγε πριν βρέξει.
Leave before it rains.
Τον ήξερα πριν.
I knew him before.
Πλύνε τα χέρια σου πριν φας.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Πριν λίγα χρόνια ζούσαμε στην Αθήνα.
A few years ago we lived in Athens.
Πρέπει να τελειώσουμε τη δουλειά πριν φύγει το αφεντικό.
We must finish the work before the boss leaves.
Πριν προλάβει να απαντήσει, το τηλέφωνο έκλεισε.
Before he could answer, the phone cut off.
Word family
Etymology
Πρίν comes from Ancient Greek πρίν, an old temporal adverb and conjunction meaning "before" or "sooner than." It is built on the same root as πρό ("before, in front of"), widened with a nasal element. The word has stayed largely unchanged in form and meaning from antiquity through to Modern Greek.
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Every word here is a full Polylex card with native audio and spaced repetition, so 3,509 words actually move into long-term memory.
Start free