Meaning
at the front; in front
- forward, onward, on
In a sentence
La macchina è ferma dinanzi al bar.
The car is stopped in front of the bar.
Perché cammini sempre dinanzi a tutti?
Why do you always walk ahead of everyone?
Non si è fermato dinanzi al cancello.
He didn't stop in front of the gate.
Usage notes
- Use 'dinanzi' for physical position (e.g., 'dinanzi alla casa'). 'Davanti' is more common in speech.
- Avoid overusing 'dinanzi'—it sounds literary or formal. Prefer 'davanti' in everyday conversation.
- Often paired with 'a' (e.g., 'dinanzi a me'). Never use 'di' or 'da' here.