primero de
/pɾimeɾo de/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for "first of" is primero de.
When referring specifically to "the first of [a group/list]", the definite article el is typically required, resulting in el primero de.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, one may use primero de followed by the month without including el or día.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes depending on the gender and number of the noun it modifies. Use primera de if the noun is feminine. To express "the first of" in a plural sense, use los primeros de for masculine or las primeras de for feminine. Additionally, when used as an adjective immediately preceding a masculine singular noun, primero drops the '-o' to become primer.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɾimeɾo de/
Did you know?
- The word primero is a doublet of primario, meaning they both share the same Latin root but developed into different words with different meanings in Spanish.
- Depending on the region, saying el primero de when referring to a person can imply they were the first to arrive or the first to achieve something, not just their position in a list.
- When using primero de to describe a sequence of events, Spanish speakers often use the phrase en primer lugar to mean 'first of all'.
Examples in context
- Pago la mayor parte de mis cuentas el primero de cada mes.I pay most of my bills on the first of each month.This sentence shows the use of primero de when discussing dates.Tatoeba #6076440 by JRB, translation #2389855 by CK
- La ilusión es el primero de todos los placeres.Illusion is the first of all pleasures.This sentence illustrates the use of primero de when referring to the first of a group of pleasures.Tatoeba #1791399 by inastar, translation #1791398 by inastar
- Hoy es el primero de enero.Today is the first of January.
- Vamos a la playa el primero.Let's go to the beach on the first.
- Voy a mudarme el día uno del próximo mes.I'm moving on the first day of next month.
- El primero de enero es festivo.The first of January is a holiday.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are discussing their travel plans.
- Daniel¿Cuándo salimos para el viaje?When do we leave for the trip?
- MaríaNos vamos el primero de mayo.We leave on the first of May.
- DanielPerfecto, ya lo anotaré en el calendario.Perfect, I will note it in the calendar.
- María¡Qué emoción, Daniel!How exciting, Daniel!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, primero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
