Un topo corre dietro al recinto, ma il maiale non lo guarda nemmeno.

Un is the indefinite article, so un topo means a mouse: it introduces the mouse as one example of that animal.

Il is the definite article, so il maiale means the pig: it refers to a specific pig, usually one that is already clear from the context, picture, or situation.

This is very normal in Italian:

• un topo = a mouse
• il maiale = the pig

Italian uses articles very regularly, often more than English does.

Corre is the third person singular of correre, meaning to run.

So:

• corro = I run
• corri = you run
• corre = he/she/it runs

Italian often uses the simple present where English might use either:

• runs
• is running

So Un topo corre... can mean:

• A mouse runs...
• A mouse is running...

If you say sta correndo, that emphasizes the action as ongoing right now:

• Un topo sta correndo = a mouse is running

Both can work, but corre is simpler and very common.

Dietro means behind.

Al recinto is:

• a + il = al
• recinto = enclosure, pen, fenced area, or fence depending on context

So dietro al recinto literally means behind the enclosure/fence.

A very literal breakdown is:

• dietro = behind
• al = to the / at the
• recinto = enclosure

In idiomatic English, you would usually just say behind the fence or behind the enclosure.

Because dietro is commonly followed by a when it introduces a noun:

• dietro al recinto
• dietro alla casa
• dietro al muro

Here, a + il becomes al.

This is called a contracted preposition:

• a + il = al
• a + lo = allo
• a + la = alla
• a + i = ai
• a + gli = agli
• a + le = alle

So dietro al recinto is the normal form for behind the fence/enclosure.

In modern Italian, dietro a is very common and usually the safest choice before a noun:

• dietro al recinto

You may sometimes see or hear dietro il recinto, especially in less formal or regional usage, but for learners, dietro a + noun is the better pattern to follow.

So if you are unsure, use:

• dietro al
• dietro alla
• dietro ai, etc.

Ma means but.

It connects the two parts of the sentence and shows contrast:

• Un topo corre dietro al recinto
• ma il maiale non lo guarda nemmeno

So the idea is: a mouse is running behind the fence, but the pig does not even look at it.

Lo is a direct object pronoun meaning him or it.

Here it refers to il topo.

So:

• il maiale guarda il topo = the pig looks at the mouse
• il maiale lo guarda = the pig looks at it

Because topo is masculine singular, the pronoun is lo.

Compare:

• vedo il cane → lo vedo = I see the dog → I see it
• vedo la mucca → la vedo = I see the cow → I see it

In Italian, object pronouns like lo, la, li, le normally go before the conjugated verb.

So:

• lo guarda = he/she looks at it
• non lo guarda = he/she does not look at it

You do not normally say:

• guarda lo ❌

This is a very important word-order rule in Italian.

Italian often uses a pronoun to avoid repeating the noun, just like English does.

So instead of:

• il maiale non guarda il topo

you can say:

• il maiale non lo guarda

That sounds more natural because lo clearly refers back to topo.

Italian does this very often:

• Vedo il libro. Lo apro.
• Conosco Maria. La saluto.

Non makes the verb negative:

• guarda = looks
• non guarda = does not look

Nemmeno means even or not even.

So:

• non lo guarda nemmeno = he doesn’t even look at it

This is a common Italian negative pattern:

• non ... nemmeno
• non ... neanche
• non ... neppure

All can mean not even.

Examples:

• Non mangia nemmeno. = He doesn’t even eat.
• Non mi parla nemmeno. = She doesn’t even speak to me.

Putting nemmeno at the end is very natural and gives emphasis to the idea of not even.

• non lo guarda nemmeno = doesn’t even look at it

Italian often places words like nemmeno near the element being emphasized, and sentence-final position is very common in everyday speech.

You might also hear slightly different placements in other sentences, but here the final position sounds very normal.

In this sentence, guardare means to look at or to watch.

So:

• guarda il topo = looks at the mouse

Unlike English, Italian guardare does not need a separate word like at before a direct object.

Compare:

• English: look at the mouse
• Italian: guardare il topo

That is why lo guarda means looks at it, not just looks it in English.

Guarda is the third person singular present tense of guardare.

The pattern is:

• guardo = I look
• guardi = you look
• guarda = he/she/it looks

Here the subject is il maiale, which is singular, so guarda is the correct form.

It has two main clauses joined by ma:

1. Un topo corre dietro al recinto
2. ma il maiale non lo guarda nemmeno

The basic structure is:

• subject + verb + place
• ma + subject + non + object pronoun + verb + nemmeno

So the sentence is a good example of:

• normal present tense
• a prepositional phrase with dietro a
• a direct object pronoun lo
• negation with non
• emphasis with nemmeno