inicialmente
“inicialmente” means “initially” in Spanish (at the beginning of a process or time period).
initially
Also: at first, originally
📝 In Action
Inicialmente, el plan era viajar a España.
A2Initially, the plan was to travel to Spain.
No me gustó el libro inicialmente, pero el final es increíble.
B1I didn't like the book at first, but the ending is incredible.
El edificio fue diseñado inicialmente como un hospital.
B2The building was originally designed as a hospital.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: inicialmente
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is a synonym for 'inicialmente'?
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🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Spanish adjective 'inicial' (from Latin 'initialis', meaning 'at the beginning') combined with the suffix '-mente' (meaning 'with the mind/manner of').
First recorded: 17th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'inicialmente' and 'al principio'?
They mean the same thing, but 'inicialmente' sounds a bit more formal and is common in writing or professional settings.
Is there an accent on 'inicialmente'?
No. Although the base word 'inicial' doesn't have an accent, some '-mente' words keep the accent of their original adjective (like 'rápidamente'). Since 'inicial' doesn't have one, 'inicialmente' doesn't either.
Where should I put 'inicialmente' in a sentence?
You can put it at the start (followed by a comma), after the verb, or at the end of the sentence. Putting it at the start is the most common way to emphasize that you are talking about the beginning of a story.