Dopo la doccia, io indosso l'accappatoio.

After the shower, I put on the bathrobe.

Breakdown of Dopo la doccia, io indosso l'accappatoio.

• io: I
• dopo: after
• la doccia: the shower
• indossare: to put on
• l'accappatoio: the bathrobe

Questions & Answers about Dopo la doccia, io indosso l'accappatoio.

What does “Dopo la doccia” mean, and how is the preposition “dopo” used in Italian?

“Dopo la doccia” translates to “After the shower”. Here, “dopo” is a preposition meaning “after”, and it sets up when the action takes place. “La doccia” means “the shower,” using the definite article “la” to indicate a specific or routine event.

What does “indosso” mean, and how is it used in this sentence?

“Indosso” is the first person singular present form of the verb “indossare”, which means “to wear” or “to put on”. In this sentence, it indicates that I am performing the action of putting on the item of clothing (in this case, the bathrobe). The use of the present tense also suggests a habitual or immediate action.

Why is the pronoun “io” explicitly stated, and could it be omitted?

While Italian verb conjugations make the subject clear, the pronoun “io” (meaning “I”) is included here for emphasis or clarity. Italian often allows for subject pronoun omission because the verb ending already indicates the subject, so in casual conversation, “io” might be dropped without losing meaning.

What does “l'accappatoio” mean, and why is there an apostrophe in front of “accappatoio”?

“L'accappatoio” means “the bathrobe.” The apostrophe is used because in Italian, when a masculine singular noun that begins with a vowel is preceded by the definite article, “lo” (or sometimes “il”) contracts to “l'”. This contraction facilitates smoother pronunciation.

What tense is the verb “indosso” in, and what does that tell us about the action described?

The verb “indosso” is in the present indicative tense, first person singular. This tense is typically used to describe actions that are currently happening or habitual routines. In this sentence, it tells us that the speaker routinely or presently puts on the bathrobe after taking a shower.

Is there any particular significance to the placement of “Dopo la doccia” at the beginning of the sentence?

Yes, starting with “Dopo la doccia” sets the scene by establishing the time context for the action. Italian often places time expressions at the beginning of the sentence to make the sequence of events clear. This structure emphasizes that the action of putting on the bathrobe directly follows the shower, aligning with typical Italian word order for clarity and emphasis.