Pertama

Pertama is a word in Indonesian and Malay that means “first” in the sense of order or sequence. It is used to denote the initial item in a series or the earliest occurrence of something, and it can function as both an adjective and an adverb.

As an adjective, pertama modifies a noun to indicate its place in a sequence, as in pertemuan pertama (the first meeting) or hal pertama (the first thing). It also appears in compound phrases such as pertandingan pertama (the first match). As an adverb, it is used to introduce or emphasize the first step in a process, often in lists: Pertama, kita perlu mengumpulkan data; kedua, kita menganalisisnya.

Pertama can pair with kali to express “for the first time” when combined with kali in phrases such as pertama kali. It is commonly used in both informal speech and formal writing, including education, journalism, and literature, to establish order or chronology.

In contrast to other related terms, seperti awal, yang berarti beginning or initial, pertama focuses more on ordinal position within a sequence rather than the mere start of something. It is part of the standard set of ordinal numerals in Indonesian and Malay, alongside kedua (second), ketiga (third), and so on.

Etymology is not detailed here, but pertama is a fundamental part of the core lexicon in Indonesian and Malay, widely understood across contexts and registers. It remains a common tool for organizing information and narration by order.