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"Before" is an adverb which is often translated as "antes", and "first" is an adjective which is often translated as "primero". Learn more about the difference between "before" and "first" below.
before(
bi
-
for
)An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
1. (previously)
a. antes
We've met before; you don't have to introduce him to me.Nos conocemos de antes; no me lo tienes que presentar.
A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).
a. ante
I had never performed before such a large crowd.Nunca había actuado ante una multitud tan grande.
b. delante de
They were married before a small gathering of friends and family.Se casaron delante de un pequeño grupo de amigos y familia.
a. antes que
A poet is, before anything else, a person who is in love with language.Un poeta es, antes que nada, una persona enamorada de los idiomas.
A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, clauses, or sentences (e.g., The cat and the dog slept.).
a. antes de que
Finish your homework before mom gets home.Acaba tus deberes antes de que mamá llegue a casa.
a. antes que
I will die on my feet before living on my knees.Moriré de pie antes que vivir de rodillas.
first(
fuhrst
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. primero
The first time I ever had guacamole was in Guadalajara.La primera vez que probé el guacamole fue en Guadalajara.
b. primer (before noun)
The first chapter of the novel was the best.El primer capítulo de la novela fue el mejor.
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
a. primero
First, I would like to thank the organizers for inviting me.Primero me gustaría agradecer a los organizadores por haberme invitado.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
5. (in dates)
a. el primero (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The first of April is a day for pranks and jokes of all kinds.El primero de abril es un día para bromas y chistes de todo tipo.
6. (car gear)
a. la primera (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
We had to go up the slope in first.Tuvimos que subir la cuesta en primera.
