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How to Say "prime" in Spanish

English → Spanish

primera

/pree-MEH-rah//pɾiˈmeɾa/

adjectiveA1General
Use 'primera' when referring to something being first or primary, often in compound phrases like 'materia prima' (raw material).
A line of three identical, colorful pink roses in a garden setting, with the leftmost rose glowing to indicate it is the first one in sequence.

Examples

Es mi primera vez en México.

It's my first time in Mexico.

La primera lección es sobre los saludos.

The first lesson is about greetings.

Vivimos en la primera casa a la derecha.

We live in the first house on the right.

Matching with Feminine Words

'Primera' is the feminine form of 'primero'. You must use it with words that are feminine, like 'casa' (house), 'vez' (time), or 'persona' (person).

It Never Changes Before a Noun

The masculine form 'primero' changes to 'primer' before a masculine word (like 'primer día'). However, 'primera' always stays 'primera', it never shortens.

Using 'primero' for a feminine word

Mistake: “Es mi *primero* vez aquí.”

Correction: Es mi *primera* vez aquí. Because 'vez' is a feminine word, the adjective describing it must also be feminine.

flor

/flor//floɾ/

nounB1General
Use 'flor' to describe the best or most flourishing period of someone's life, similar to 'the prime of life'.
A large, perfectly bloomed golden sunflower, facing brightly upwards, towering over several small, green, closed flower buds.

Examples

Estaba en la flor de su juventud cuando se hizo famoso.

He was in the prime of his youth when he became famous.

Esa novela representa la flor de la literatura de esa época.

That novel represents the cream of the literature of that era.

Fixed Phrase

This meaning is almost always found in the phrase 'la flor de...' (the prime of...), linking the concept to a time period or a group.

primos

PREE-mos/ˈpɾimos/

adjectiveB2Technical (Mathematics)
Use 'primos' exclusively in a mathematical context to refer to prime numbers.
A single, perfectly smooth, solid red block standing alone next to a tall structure built entirely out of many small, identical blue blocks, illustrating the concept of a fundamental, indivisible unit.

Examples

Los números primos solo son divisibles por uno y por sí mismos.

Prime numbers are only divisible by one and by themselves.

Analizamos los factores primos del polinomio.

We analyzed the prime factors of the polynomial.

Adjective Agreement

As an adjective, 'primos' must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes, such as 'números' (masculine plural).

Confusing 'primera' with 'primos'

Learners often confuse 'primera' (first, primary) with 'primos' (prime numbers). Remember that 'primera' is a general term for 'first' or 'raw', while 'primos' is strictly for mathematical prime numbers. You would never say 'materia primos' for raw material.

Related Translations

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