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primordial

pree-mor-dee-AHL/pɾimorˈðjal/

essential

Also: fundamental, primary
Adjectivem or fB2
A single drop of water falling into a small green sprout.

📝 In Action

La educación es un factor primordial para el desarrollo.

B1

Education is an essential factor for development.

Es primordial que lleguemos a un acuerdo hoy mismo.

B2

It is fundamental that we reach an agreement this very day.

El objetivo primordial de la empresa es la satisfacción del cliente.

C1

The primary goal of the company is customer satisfaction.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • importancia primordial – paramount importance
  • papel primordial – leading/primary role
  • objetivo primordial – primary objective

primordial

Also: primeval
Adjectivem or fC2formal
A glowing nebula of swirling gases and stars in space.

📝 In Action

Los científicos estudian la sopa primordial de la Tierra.

C1

Scientists study Earth's primordial soup.

Sentí un miedo primordial ante la tormenta.

C2

I felt a primeval fear before the storm.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • sopa primordial – primordial soup
  • instinto primordial – primal instinct

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "primordial" in Spanish:

essential→fundamental→primary→primeval→primordial→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: primordial

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence uses 'primordial' to mean 'extremely important'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
primordialmente(primarily) — Adverb
primero(first) — Adjective
primacía(priority/supremacy) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'primordialis,' which combines 'primus' (meaning first) and 'ordiri' (meaning to begin). It literally refers to the very first order of things.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: primordialFrench: primordialItalian: primordiale

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'primordial' change for masculine and feminine nouns?

No, it is an 'invariable' adjective, meaning it stays the same regardless of the gender of the noun it describes. For example: 'el factor primordial' (masculine) and 'la causa primordial' (feminine).

When should I use 'primordial' instead of 'importante'?

Use 'primordial' when you want to say something is the *most* important thing or the very basis of a situation. It is stronger and more formal than 'importante'.

Is 'primordial' used in everyday conversation?

It is less common in casual chats with friends, but you will hear it very often in the news, at work, or in school lectures.