al principio

at the beginning

al principio(ahl prreen-see-pyoh)

phrase

1. (at first)

a. at the beginning

Las clases eran fáciles al principio, pero para el final del año nadie entendía nada.

Classes were easy at the beginning, but by the end of the year, no one understood anything.

b. initially

Me cayó bien al principio, pero después descubrí que era una estafadora.

I liked her initially, and then I discovered that she was a con artist.

c. in the beginning

Recuerdo que, al principio, le daba miedo conducir.

I remember that, in the beginning, he was afraid of driving.