primero
/pree-MEH-roh/
first
Visualizing 'primero' as the adjective meaning 'first' in an ordered sequence.
primero(Adjective)
📝 In Action
Es mi primer día en la oficina.
A1It's my first day at the office.
La primera casa a la derecha es la mía.
A1The first house on the right is mine.
Llegaron en los primeros lugares de la carrera.
A2They arrived in the first places of the race.
Mi primera impresión fue muy buena.
B1My first impression was very good.
💡 Grammar Points
The Special 'O' Drop Rule
When 'primero' comes right before a masculine word (like 'día' or 'año'), it shortens to 'primer'. Think of it as making room for the word that follows! For example, you say 'el primer día', not 'el primero día'.
Matching the Noun
Like most Spanish adjectives, this word changes to match the thing it describes. Use 'primera' for feminine things ('la primera vez' - the first time) and add an '-s' for plural things ('los primeros pasos' - the first steps).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting to Shorten It
Mistake: "Fui a España por el primero vez."
Correction: Fui a España por primera vez. 'Vez' is a feminine word, so you need 'primera'. If it were a masculine word like 'viaje' (trip), you would say 'mi primer viaje' (shortening 'primero' to 'primer').
Using 'Primero' Instead of 'Primer'
Mistake: "Es mi primero coche."
Correction: Es mi primer coche. Because 'coche' is a masculine word that comes right after it, 'primero' drops the '-o' and becomes 'primer'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Floors
In many Spanish-speaking countries, you use ordinal numbers for floors in a building. 'Vivo en el primer piso' means 'I live on the first floor' (which is often the floor above the ground floor).
Representing 'primero' used as an adverb to introduce the initial step in a sequence.
primero(Adverb)
📝 In Action
Primero, vamos a cenar y luego vamos al cine.
A1First, we're going to have dinner, and then we're going to the movies.
No quiero ir. Primero, estoy cansado. Segundo, no tengo dinero.
A2I don't want to go. Firstly, I'm tired. Secondly, I don't have any money.
Llegué primero que tú.
B1I arrived before you.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Stays the Same
When you use 'primero' to mean 'firstly' or to start a sequence of events, it never changes. It's always 'primero', no matter who is doing the action.
⭐ Usage Tips
Your Go-To for Lists
This is the perfect word to use when you're explaining steps or listing reasons. You can start with 'Primero,...' then continue with 'Segundo,...' (Secondly), 'Tercero,...' (Thirdly), etc.
Illustrating 'el primero' or 'la primera' as the selection of the very first item in a group.
📝 In Action
De todos los candidatos, él fue el primero en llegar.
A2Of all the candidates, he was the first one to arrive.
Mi cumpleaños es el primero de julio.
A2My birthday is the first of July.
¿Cuál coche te gusta más? — El primero.
B1Which car do you like more? — The first one.
💡 Grammar Points
Special Word for the First of the Month
For dates, Spanish uses regular numbers (dos, tres, cuatro...), but there's a special exception for the first day of the month. You always say 'el primero de...' (the first of...). For example, 'el primero de enero' (January 1st).
A Handy Shortcut
You can use 'el primero' or 'la primera' to avoid repeating a noun. If someone asks '¿Qué camisa prefieres?', you can just say 'La primera' which means 'The first one'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Uno' for Dates
Mistake: "La fiesta es el uno de mayo."
Correction: La fiesta es el primero de mayo. For the first day of any month, always use 'primero', not 'uno'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: primero
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence is correct?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'primer' and 'primero'?
It's a great question! They both mean 'first'. You use the short form 'primer' right before a masculine noun (el primer coche). You use the full form 'primero' when it stands alone (Él llegó primero) or when it comes after the noun (el piso primero).
Can I use 'uno' instead of 'primero' for the first of the month?
No, this is a special rule in Spanish. For the first day of any month, you must use 'primero'. For all other days, you use the regular numbers (el dos, el tres, etc.). So, it's 'el primero de marzo', but 'el dos de marzo'.
How is 'primero' (adverb) different from 'primero' (adjective)?
The adverb 'primero' (meaning 'firstly') is used to order actions or ideas and it never changes. For example: 'Primero, come.' (First, eat). The adjective 'primero' describes a noun and must change to match it in gender and number (el primer día, la primera noche, los primeros años).