German · Numbers & Time
Erste
First
Beginneradjective
Definition
Coming before all others.
Example
Ich war der Erste dort.
I was the first one there.
Etymology
'Erste' comes from Middle High German 'erste', which originates from Old High German 'erista', meaning 'first'. Its form has remained quite stable through the history of the language.
How & Where It’s Used
'Erste' is an adjective used in both spoken and written contexts, particularly in formal numerical or chronological references. It's common across all German dialects.