prologo

Prologo is the Italian word for prologue, the opening section of a book, play, film, or other narrative. It introduces setting, background, and sometimes characters or a thematic frame, and may foreshadow events. The prologue is distinct from the main narrative and from other introductory texts such as a prefazione (preface) or introduzione (introduction). In Italian and many Romance languages, prologo also appears in titles and critical discussions to denote the opening portion regardless of form.

Etymology: from Latin prologus, from Greek prologos, meaning "before the word." In English and other languages, the cognate prologue has the same sense.

In literature and media, prologues vary in style and purpose; they can be narrative in their own right, or expository, or a framing device. Some works begin directly with the main narrative and omit a prologue.

As a proper noun, Prologo is the name of a brand of bicycle saddles and related components produced by an Italian company known as Prologo Design. The brand markets a range of saddles designed for cyclists, including road and mountain bike applications, and is recognized in professional cycling for lightweight, ergonomic designs.

See also: Prologue. References to the term can be found in many languages with different spellings: prologo (Italian), prólogo (Spanish, with accent), prólogo (Portuguese, with accent).