indietro

Indietro is an Italian adverb and directional expression meaning “toward the rear” or “backward.” It is used to indicate position, movement, or direction relative to a frontward orientation. As a flexible, fixed expression, it can function with verbs of motion or with prepositional phrases to describe where something is or where it is going.

In everyday language, indietro appears in a variety of contexts. With verbs of movement, it denotes backward motion: cammina indietro (walk backward), guarda indietro (look back). It can specify distance or position: è due metri indietro (it is two meters behind). The phrase fare un passo indietro (to take a step back) is a commonly used idiom for retreating or reconsidering a position. It can also indicate temporal or sequential reversal, as in andare indietro nel tempo (to go back in time) or tornare indietro (to go back).

Indietro also serves as a command in safety or navigation contexts: Indietro! is used to tell someone to step back or retreat. In technology and media, indietro is the standard Italian label for a “Back” button in user interfaces, menus, and websites.

Etymology and relation to other forms: the word indietro is typically analyzed as a compound formed from in- plus dietro (behind), yielding a fixed adverb that conveys rearward movement or position. Its usage is widespread in Italian, with all major dialects employing the term in similar senses.

Overall, indietro is a versatile term anchoring directions, spatial relationships, and the concept of reverting to a previous state in Italian.