First of all
Example: First of all, we need to finish our homework.
Definition
"First of all" is an adverbial phrase used to introduce the first and most important point or action in a sequence. It signals the beginning of a list or argument, emphasizing what should be considered or done before anything else, as in, "First of all, we need to finish our homework."
Translations
-
antes que nada -
allereerst -
abans de res -
tout d'abord -
zunächst
Etymology
The phrase "first of all" originates from the combination of the adjective "first," meaning earliest in order or time, and the phrase "of all," meaning among everything considered. It has been used in English since at least the 16th century to indicate priority or precedence. Did you know? The phrase emphasizes the very first item in a series, making it a handy way to organize thoughts or actions.
Learn to use this expression actively
"First of all" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (A1) - set 1", containing 104 commonly used expressions.
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