Imprimeix l'etiqueta de devolució abans del termini.

Because the full form is la etiqueta (the label), but in Catalan the feminine singular article la is usually shortened to l' before a word beginning with a vowel or silent h.

So:

• la etiqueta → l'etiqueta
• la hora → l'hora

This works much like contractions in French, but it is written with an apostrophe.

Imprimeix is the informal singular imperative of imprimir (to print).

It is used when giving a command or instruction to one person you address as tu:

• Imprimeix l'etiqueta = Print the label

This is the form you often see in instructions, apps, websites, and notices.

Because the sentence is giving a command, not just naming the action or describing what someone does.

Compare:

• imprimir = to print (infinitive)
• imprimeixes = you print / you are printing (present tense, tu)
• imprimeix = print! (imperative, tu)

So in an instruction, Catalan normally uses the imperative:

• Imprimeix l'etiqueta... = Print the label...

de devolució means for return or return in the sense of something related to sending something back.

So:

• etiqueta = label
• etiqueta de devolució = return label

This is a very common Catalan pattern: noun + de + noun.

Examples:

• tiquet de compra = purchase receipt
• centre de salut = health center
• full de reclamació = complaint form

Catalan often expresses this idea with de + noun, where English may use a noun directly before another noun.

English:

• return label

Catalan:

• etiqueta de devolució

This is very normal. English often stacks nouns together, but Catalan usually prefers a structure with de.

Word by word:

• abans = before
• del = of the / from the, here functioning as part of the phrase
• termini = deadline / time limit

Together, abans del termini means before the deadline or before the time limit.

A more literal breakdown is:

• abans de + el termini → abans del termini

Because de + el contracts to del in Catalan.

So:

• de + el = del
• a + el = al

In this sentence:

• abans de el termini → abans del termini

This kind of contraction is mandatory in standard Catalan.

In Catalan, abans is normally followed by de when introducing what comes after:

• abans de marxar = before leaving
• abans de demà = before tomorrow
• abans del termini = before the deadline

So abans de is the normal pattern, just as English uses before.

Not usually. In this sentence, termini means deadline, time limit, or period allowed.

Depending on context, termini can mean:

• a deadline
• a set period
• a time limit

Here, abans del termini most naturally means before the deadline.

So although term is a related word historically, you should not assume it always translates directly as English term.

Yes, but the verb form would change.

This sentence uses the tu command:

• Imprimeix l'etiqueta...

If you wanted a more formal instruction addressed to vostè, it would be:

• Imprimeixi l'etiqueta...

Both mean Print the return label before the deadline, but:

• imprimeix = informal singular
• imprimeixi = formal singular

In many instructions, Catalan often uses the tu imperative, especially in user-facing messages.

Yes, it is completely normal.

The structure is:

• Imprimeix = verb
• l'etiqueta de devolució = object
• abans del termini = time expression

So the sentence follows a very common instruction pattern:

Verb + object + time phrase

Examples:

• Omple el formulari avui. = Fill out the form today.
• Envia el paquet abans de divendres. = Send the package before Friday.

To make it negative, Catalan usually puts no before the verb:

• No imprimeixis l'etiqueta de devolució abans del termini.

That means Don’t print the return label before the deadline.

Notice that the negative tu command does not use the same form as the affirmative imperative. Instead, it uses the present subjunctive form:

• affirmative: imprimeix
• negative: no imprimeixis

This is an important pattern in Catalan.

A helpful approximate pronunciation is:

• etiqueta ≈ eh-tee-KEH-tuh

Some useful notes:

• the stress is on -que-
• qu before e sounds like a hard k
• the final a is an unstressed a, often fairly neutral in many accents

So:

• l'etiqueta ≈ leh-tee-KEH-tuh

Yes. Catalan allows some flexibility in word order, especially with time expressions.

For example:

• Abans del termini, imprimeix l'etiqueta de devolució.

This still means the same thing. However, the original version is more straightforward and natural for a short instruction:

• Imprimeix l'etiqueta de devolució abans del termini.

Yes, it is standard Catalan and would be widely understood across Catalan-speaking areas.

Vocabulary like:

• imprimeix
• etiqueta
• devolució
• termini

is standard and common, especially in administrative, shipping, and online-service contexts.

There may be small regional preferences in other expressions, but this sentence itself is neutral and standard.