How to pronounce first
Say it like FURST. First is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- FURST
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
First pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FURSTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of first
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FURST.
What does first mean?
- Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest.“Hancock was first to arrive.”
- Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest.“Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece.”
- Of or belonging to a first family.
- Before anything else; firstly.“Clean the sink first, before you even think of starting to cook.”
- For the first time.“I first witnessed a death when I was nine years old.”
- The person or thing in the first position.“He was the first to complete the course.”
- The first gear of an engine.
- Something that has never happened before; a new occurrence.“This is a first. For once he has nothing to say.”
Where does first come from?
Cognate with Scots first (“first”), Dutch voorste (“foremost, first”), vorst (“prince”), German Fürst (“chief, prince”, literally “first (born)”), Limburgish Vürsch (“prince”), Luxembourgish viischt (“anterior; forward”), Vilamovian fiyśt,
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- maiden
- prime
- 1st
- inaugural
- initiative
- initiatory
- beginning
- number one
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with first
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of first.
Questions about saying first
How do you pronounce first?
Say FURST. The American pronunciation is /fɝst/. In British English it is /fɜːst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in first?
First is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: FURST.
Is first pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /fɜːst/ (FURST).