întâi

Întâi is a Romanian word that functions primarily as an adverb and an ordinal numeral. As an adverb, it conveys the meaning of "first," "initially," or "in the first place." It is used to indicate the order of events or actions, signifying that something happened before other things. For example, "Întâi am mâncat, apoi am plecat" translates to "First I ate, then I left." It can also introduce the primary reason or point in an argument, similar to "Firstly" or "To begin with."

As an ordinal numeral, "întâi" represents the number one in a sequence, typically used for days of the month or specific positions. When referring to the first day of a month, it is often written as "întâi" or as "întâi [month name]." For instance, "Întâi mai" means "May the first." In other contexts where a more formal ordinal is required, such as "the first person" or "the first time," the adjective "primul" (masculine) or "prima" (feminine) is generally used. However, "întâi" retains its usage in specific idiomatic expressions and when emphasizing the absolute beginning or the very first instance of something. The word's etymology traces back to the Latin word "ante," meaning "before."