🥇

first

beginnerA1

/fɜːrst/ · first

Coming before all others in time, order, or rank; preceding all others

Meanings

adjectiveformal

Coming before all others in time, order, or rank; preceding all others

وقت، ترتیب یا درجہ میں سب سے پہلے آنے والا

پہلا

pehla

Formal: اولColloquial: پہلا

Synonyms

initialopeningearliestforemostleadingاولابتدائیشروعاتیآغازین

Antonyms

lastfinallatestconcludingآخریآخراختتام

Common Collocations

  • first time
  • first place
  • first day
  • first impression
  • first class
  • first aid
  • first step
  • first language
  • first choice
  • at first

Example Sentences

This is my first time visiting this city.

یہ میرا پہلی بار یہ شہر زیارت کرنا ہے۔

Yeh mera pehli baar yeh sheher ziyarat karna hai.

She came in first place in the competition.

وہ مقابلے میں پہلی جگہ پر آئی۔

Woh muqabale mein pehli jagah par aai.

The first chapter of the book is the most important.

کتاب کا پہلا باب سب سے اہم ہے۔

Kitaab ka pehla baab sab se aham hai.

Easily Confused With

first vs. firstly:'First' is an adjective or adverb used directly; 'firstly' is an adverb primarily used in formal written contexts to introduce the first point in a series
adverbformal

Before anything or anyone else; in the first place; initially

کسی اور سے پہلے؛ شروع میں؛ ابتدائی طور پر

پہلے

pehle

Formal: اولColloquial: پہلے

Synonyms

initiallyoriginallyat firstin the beginningbeforeپہلےابتدائی طور پرشروع میںاول

Antonyms

lastfinallyultimatelyat lastآخر میںبالآخراختتام پرآخرکار

Common Collocations

  • first of all
  • first and foremost
  • first come first served
  • at first glance
  • first things first
  • head first

Example Sentences

You must finish your homework first before watching TV.

آپ کو ٹی وی دیکھنے سے پہلے اپنا ہوم ورک مکمل کرنا ہے۔

Aap ko TV dekhne se pehle apna homework mukamal karna hai.

First, let me introduce myself to you.

پہلے، مجھے اپنا تعارف آپ سے کروانے دیں۔

Pehle, mujhe apna taaaruf aap se karaane dein.

At first, I didn't understand the problem.

ابتدائی طور پر، میں مسئلہ کو سمجھ نہیں سکا۔

Ibtidai taur par, main masla ko samjh nahin saka.

Easily Confused With

first vs. at first:'First' indicates sequence or order; 'at first' suggests an initial state that may change
nounformal

A person or thing that is first in time, order, rank, or importance

ایک شخص یا چیز جو وقت، ترتیب، درجہ یا اہمیت میں سب سے پہلے ہو

پہلا

pehla

Formal: اولColloquial: پہلا

Synonyms

beginningopeningstartcommencementشروعاتآغازابتداسراغ

Antonyms

lastendconclusionfinishآخریاختتامانجامپایان

Common Collocations

  • the first of the month
  • finish first
  • come in first
  • from the first
  • first among many

Example Sentences

He was the first to arrive at the party.

وہ پارٹی میں پہنچنے والا پہلا شخص تھا۔

Woh party mein paunchne wala pehla shakhs tha.

The first of January is a public holiday.

جنوری کا پہلا دن عوامی چھٹی ہے۔

January ka pehla din 'awami chhuti hai.

She achieved her first milestone in her career.

اس نے اپنے کیریئر میں اپنا پہلا سنگ راہ حاصل کیا۔

Us ne apne career mein apna pehla sang rah hasil kiya.

Word Family

firstly
adverbپہلے
firsthand
adjective/adverbبراہ راست
first-rate
adjectiveدرجہ اول
first aid
nounابتدائی طبی امداد
first name
nounپہلا نام

See Also

💡 Memory Tip

First = F-I-R-S-T → 'Front In Rank Sequence Time' - always at the front of the line

Picture a runner crossing the finish line first with a golden medal, standing at the front of a queue, or the number 1 on a podium - all representing being first

✍️ Urdu Poetry

پہلی رات کی خوشبو ابھی دل میں ہے جیسے پہلا ستارہ آسماں میں ہے

Pehli raat ki khushbo abhi dil mein hai Jaise pehla sitara asmaan mein hai

The fragrance of that first night still lingers in my heart, like the first star gleaming in the sky

Unverified (contemporary Urdu poetry), Unverified

* Poetry attribution is AI-generated and may require verification.

🗣️ Urdu Proverb

پہلا موقع دوبارہ نہیں آتا

Pehla mauqa dobara nahin aata

The first opportunity does not come again (seize the moment)

📖 Etymology

Origin: Proto-Germanic "furistaz" — foremost, before

First known use: before 900 CE (Old English)

The word evolved from Proto-Germanic 'furistaz' (superlative of 'fore'), passing through Old English 'fyrst' and Middle English 'first'. It combines the sense of 'fore' (before/in front) with the superlative suffix '-st', creating the meaning of the one that comes before all others.