intro

See also: intro., intro-, and într-o

English

Etymology

Clipping of introduction, from Latin intrōductiō (“lead-in, introduction”) – the abbreviation removes the second part of the compound; the first part ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁énteros (“inner, what is inside”). The demoscene sense comes from the fact that they were originally prepended to pirated copies of computer games.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɪntɹoʊ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: in‧tro

Noun

intro (plural intros)

1. (informal) An introduction.
2. (informal) The opening sequence at beginning of a film, television program, etc.

   Antonyms: extro, outro

3. (demoscene) A small demo produced to promote one's demogroup or for a competition.

   Hyponyms: 4ktro, cracktro, invitro, wedtro

   • 1999, brainpower / digital artists, “Win32 demos”, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.demos (Usenet):

     If the rules specify that the DLLs' size will be added to the 64K limit, there's not a lot of space to code an intro.

   • 2001, LJames4728, “Good C64 Game Sites?”, in alt.c64 (Usenet):

     Are there any sites that have original copies of games? (ie: Summer/Winter/World Games with Fast Loading). Just looking for games without the trainers/intros.

   • 2005, Tamás Polgár, Freax: the brief history of the demoscene: Volume 1:

     Games, demos, intros. They were the same, this was the scene. The trend was that you cracked and made demos and intros.

Derived terms

• BBStro
• dentro
• intromercial
• introscan

Translations

short form of introduction

Dutch: intro (nl) Finnish: intro (fi) French: intro (fr) German: intro Italian: intro (it) Latin: intro (la) Portuguese: intro (pt) Spanish: intro (es) Swedish: intro (sv) n

Verb

intro (third-person singular simple present intros, present participle introing, simple past and past participle introed)

1. (informal, transitive) To introduce.

Anagrams

• trion, Nitro, tonir, Niort, nitro, nitro-, torni, Tiron

Chinese

Etymology

From English intro.

Pronunciation

• Cantonese (Jyutping): in¹ cou²

---

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: in¹ cou²
    • Yale: īn chóu
    • Cantonese Pinyin: in¹ tsou²
    • Guangdong Romanization: in¹ cou²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /iːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰou̯³⁵/

Noun

intro

1. (colloquial) intro (opening sequence) (Classifier: 段 c; 個／个 c)

See also

• ending

Finnish

Etymology

Internationalism (see English intro), ultimately from Latin intrōductiō.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈintro/, [ˈin̪.t̪ro̞]
• Rhymes: -intro
• Syllabification^(key): int‧ro
• Hyphenation^(key): int‧ro

Noun

intro (informal)

1. intro (introduction)

   Synonyms: aloitus, esittely, johdanto

Declension

Inflection of intro (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
nominative		intro	introt
genitive		intron	introjen
partitive		introa	introja
illative		introon	introihin
		singular	plural
nominative		intro	introt
accusative	nom.	intro	introt
	gen.	intron
genitive		intron	introjen
partitive		introa	introja
inessive		introssa	introissa
elative		introsta	introista
illative		introon	introihin
adessive		introlla	introilla
ablative		introlta	introilta
allative		introlle	introille
essive		introna	introina
translative		introksi	introiksi
abessive		introtta	introitta
instructive		—	introin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of intro (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative introni introni accusative nom. introni introni gen. introni genitive introni introjeni partitive introani introjani inessive introssani introissani elative introstani introistani illative introoni introihini adessive introllani introillani ablative introltani introiltani allative introlleni introilleni essive intronani introinani translative introkseni introikseni abessive introttani introittani instructive — — comitative — introineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative introsi introsi accusative nom. introsi introsi gen. introsi genitive introsi introjesi partitive introasi introjasi inessive introssasi introissasi elative introstasi introistasi illative introosi introihisi adessive introllasi introillasi ablative introltasi introiltasi allative introllesi introillesi essive intronasi introinasi translative introksesi introiksesi abessive introttasi introittasi instructive — — comitative — introinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative intromme intromme accusative nom. intromme intromme gen. intromme genitive intromme introjemme partitive introamme introjamme inessive introssamme introissamme elative introstamme introistamme illative introomme introihimme adessive introllamme introillamme ablative introltamme introiltamme allative introllemme introillemme essive intronamme introinamme translative introksemme introiksemme abessive introttamme introittamme instructive — — comitative — introinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative intronne intronne accusative nom. intronne intronne gen. intronne genitive intronne introjenne partitive introanne introjanne inessive introssanne introissanne elative introstanne introistanne illative introonne introihinne adessive introllanne introillanne ablative introltanne introiltanne allative introllenne introillenne essive intronanne introinanne translative introksenne introiksenne abessive introttanne introittanne instructive — — comitative — introinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative intronsa intronsa accusative nom. intronsa intronsa gen. intronsa genitive intronsa introjensa partitive introaan introansa introjaan introjansa inessive introssaan introssansa introissaan introissansa elative introstaan introstansa introistaan introistansa illative introonsa introihinsa adessive introllaan introllansa introillaan introillansa ablative introltaan introltansa introiltaan introiltansa allative introlleen introllensa introilleen introillensa essive intronaan intronansa introinaan introinansa translative introkseen introksensa introikseen introiksensa abessive introttaan introttansa introittaan introittansa instructive — — comitative — introineen introinensa

Further reading

• “intro”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎ (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2 July 2023

Anagrams

• nitro, nitro-, rotin, torin, torni, trion

French

Etymology

Clipping of introduction.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛ̃.tʁo/

Noun

intro f (plural intros)

1. (informal) intro

Indonesian

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch intro, from Latin intrōductiō (“lead-in, introduction”).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈintro/ [ˈin̪.t̪ro]
• Rhymes: -intro
• Syllabification: in‧tro

Noun

intro (plural intro-intro)

1. (informal) intro:
   1. clipping of introduksi (“introduction”)

      Synonyms: introduksi, pengantar

   2. the opening sequence at beginning of a film, television program, etc.

Further reading

• “intro”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈɪn.troː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈin.tro]

Etymology 1

From intrā (“within”) + -ō (verbalizer).

Verb

intrō (present infinitive intrāre, perfect active intrāvī, supine intrātum); first conjugation

1. (intransitive) to enter, go into, come in, get in, penetrate

   Synonyms: introeo, invado, ineo, subeō, invado, accēdō, succēdō, ingredior, immigrō

   Antonyms: exeō, ēvādō, ēgredior, abeō, ēiciō

2. (transitive) to assault, attack

   Synonyms: invādō, oppugnō, incurrō, impetō, incessō, aggredior, īnstō, excurrō, concurrō, occurrō, petō, accēdō, inruō, incēdō, incidō, irrumpō, adorior, adeō, opprimō, accurrō, appetō, arripiō, assiliō, invehō, lacessō

   Antonyms: repugnō, resistō, adversor, obversor, obstō, sistō

3. (transitive) to cross, go beyond, exceed

   Synonyms: trānsgredior, praetereō, trānseō, superō, praeferō, peragō

4. (transitive) to stab

   Synonyms: trānsfīgō, peragō, cōnfodiō, fīgō, percutiō, trāiciō, fodiō, trānsigō

Conjugation

   Conjugation of intrō (first conjugation)

indicative		singular						plural
		first		second		third		first		second		third
active	present	intrō		intrās		intrat		intrāmus		intrātis		intrant
	imperfect	intrābam		intrābās		intrābat		intrābāmus		intrābātis		intrābant
	future	intrābō		intrābis		intrābit		intrābimus		intrābitis		intrābunt
	perfect	intrāvī		intrāvistī, intrāstī2		intrāvit, intrāt2		intrāvimus, intrāmus2		intrāvistis, intrāstis2		intrāvērunt, intrārunt, intrāvēre2
	pluperfect	intrāveram, intrāram2		intrāverās, intrārās2		intrāverat, intrārat2		intrāverāmus, intrārāmus2		intrāverātis, intrārātis2		intrāverant, intrārant2
	future perfect	intrāverō, intrārō2		intrāveris, intrāris2		intrāverit, intrārit2		intrāverimus, intrārimus2		intrāveritis, intrāritis2		intrāverint, intrārint2
	sigmatic future1	intrāssō		intrāssis		intrāssit		intrāssimus		intrāssitis		intrāssint
passive	present	intror		intrāris, intrāre		intrātur		intrāmur		intrāminī		intrantur
	imperfect	intrābar		intrābāris, intrābāre		intrābātur		intrābāmur		intrābāminī		intrābantur
	future	intrābor		intrāberis, intrābere		intrābitur		intrābimur		intrābiminī		intrābuntur
	perfect	intrātus + present active indicative of sum
	pluperfect	intrātus + imperfect active indicative of sum
	future perfect	intrātus + future active indicative of sum
subjunctive		singular						plural
		first		second		third		first		second		third
active	present	intrem		intrēs		intret		intrēmus		intrētis		intrent
	imperfect	intrārem		intrārēs		intrāret		intrārēmus		intrārētis		intrārent
	perfect	intrāverim, intrārim2		intrāverīs, intrārīs2		intrāverit, intrārit2		intrāverīmus, intrārīmus2		intrāverītis, intrārītis2		intrāverint, intrārint2
	pluperfect	intrāvissem, intrāssem2		intrāvissēs, intrāssēs2		intrāvisset, intrāsset2		intrāvissēmus, intrāssēmus2		intrāvissētis, intrāssētis2		intrāvissent, intrāssent2
	sigmatic aorist1	intrāssim		intrāssīs		intrāssīt		intrāssīmus		intrāssītis		intrāssint
passive	present	intrer		intrēris, intrēre		intrētur		intrēmur		intrēminī		intrentur
	imperfect	intrārer		intrārēris, intrārēre		intrārētur		intrārēmur		intrārēminī		intrārentur
	perfect	intrātus + present active subjunctive of sum
	pluperfect	intrātus + imperfect active subjunctive of sum
imperative		singular						plural
		first		second		third		first		second		third
active	present	—		intrā		—		—		intrāte		—
	future	—		intrātō		intrātō		—		intrātōte		intrantō
passive	present	—		intrāre		—		—		intrāminī		—
	future	—		intrātor		intrātor		—		—		intrantor
non-finite forms		infinitive						participle
		active			passive			active			passive
present		intrāre			intrārī			intrāns			—
future		intrātūrum esse			intrātum īrī			intrātūrus			intrandus
perfect		intrāvisse, intrāsse2			intrātum esse			—			intrātus
future perfect		—			intrātum fore			—			—
perfect potential		intrātūrum fuisse			—			—			—
verbal nouns		gerund								supine
		genitive		dative		accusative		ablative		accusative		ablative
		intrandī		intrandō		intrandum		intrandō		intrātum		intrātū

¹At least one use of the Old Latin "sigmatic future" and "sigmatic aorist" tenses is attested, which are used by Old Latin writers; most notably Plautus and Terence. The sigmatic future is generally ascribed a future or future perfect meaning, while the sigmatic aorist expresses a possible desire ("might want to").
²At least one rare poetic syncopated perfect form is attested.

Descendants

• Insular Romance:
  • Sardinian: intràe, intrai, intrare
• Balkano-Romance:
  • Aromanian: ãntru, intru
  • Romanian: intra, întra
• Italo-Dalmatian:
  • Corsican: entra
  • Dalmatian: entrur
  • Italian: intrare, entrare
  • Venetan: entrar
• Rhaeto-Romance:
  • Friulian: jentrâ
  • Romansch: entrar, antrar, entrer
• Northern Gallo-Romance:
  • Old French: entrer
    • Middle French: entrer
      • French: entrer
        • → Danish: entrere
    • Norman: entrer
    • → Middle English: entren, enter, entir, entre, en-tre, entryn
      • English: enter (obsolete entre)
      • Middle Scots: enter, entir, entre
        • Scots: enter
• Southern Gallo-Romance:
  • Catalan: entrar
  • Occitan: intrar, entrar, ⇒ dintrar
• Ibero-Romance:
  • Asturian: entrar
  • Mirandese: antrar
  • Old Galician-Portuguese: intrar, entrar
    • Galician: entrar
    • Portuguese: entrar
  • Old Spanish: entrar
    • Ladino: entrar
    • Spanish: entrar (see there for further descendants)
• Borrowings:
  • ⇒ Classical Gaelic: inntráil
    • Irish: iontráil

Etymology 2

From earlier *interus (whence also interior), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁énteros (“inner, what is inside”). Doublet of intrā.

The change from instrumental/ablative and accusative to accusative only is caused by *-teros used adverbially.

Preposition

intrō (+ accusative)

1. within

   Synonyms: intrā, penitus

   Antonyms: forās, forīs, extrīnsecus

Derived terms

• dē intrō
• intrōrsum

Descendants

• Balkano-Romance:
  • Aromanian: tru
  • Romanian: întru
• Italo-Romance:
  • Italian: entro
• Ibero-Romance:
  • Spanish: entro

References

• “intro (adv.)”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “intro (vb.)”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• intro in Enrico Olivetti, editor (2003-2025), Dizionario Latino, Olivetti Media Communication
• “intro”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• "intro", in Charles du Fresne du Cange, Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
• “intro”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• Carl Meißner; Henry William Auden (1894), Latin Phrase-Book‎, London: Macmillan and Co.
  • to enter a city: ingredi, intrare urbem, introire in urbem
    
  • (ambiguous) within four walls: intra parietes (Brut. 8. 32)
    
• intro in Ramminger, Johann (16 July 2016 (last accessed)), Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700‎, pre-publication website, 2005-2016
• De Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 306

Portuguese

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English intro.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈĩ.tɾu/

• Hyphenation: in‧tro

Noun

intro f (plural intros)

1. (music) intro

   Synonym: introdução

Related terms

• introdução

Sardinian

Etymology

From Latin intrō.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /intro/

Preposition

intro

1. in, inside of, within

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈintɾo/ [ˈĩn̪.t̪ɾo]
• Rhymes: -intɾo
• Syllabification: in‧tro

Noun

intro f (plural intros)

1. intro (an introduction)
2. intro, opening sequence (the opening sequence at beginning of a film, television program, etc)

   Synonym: cabecera

3. Enter, enter (the "Enter" key on a computer keyboard)

Further reading

• “intro”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025