Learn GreekB1 › προ

προ

before /pro/

particleB1#1915 most common

Also: prior to, ago

Example sentences

Προ ημερών συναντήσαμε παλιούς φίλους.
A few days ago we met old friends.
Ο φίλος μου έφυγε προ ολίγου.
My friend left a short while ago.
Ζούσαν εδώ προ πολλών ετών.
They lived here many years ago.
Αυτό συνέβη προ Χριστού.
This happened before Christ.
Προ παντός, να είσαι ειλικρινής με τους ανθρώπους σου.
Above all, be honest with your people.
Η συνθήκη υπογράφηκε προ της ενάρξεως των εχθροπραξιών.
The treaty was signed before the start of hostilities.

Word family

πρόγραμμαprogram, schedule (literally 'written before')
προϊστορίαprehistory
πρόεδροςpresident (literally 'one who sits before/in front')προηγούμενοςprevious, precedingπρόοδοςprogress (literally 'a way forward')

Etymology

Greek προ descends directly from the Proto-Indo-European preposition meaning 'before, in front'. It shows almost no change in form or meaning across three thousand years of Greek. In modern speech it survives mainly in formal or fixed expressions, since everyday Greek generally prefers πριν (από) for 'before'.

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