allererste

Allererste is a German attributive adjective meaning the very first or the absolute first. It is formed by adding the intensifying prefix aller- to erste (first). The prefix aller- functions as an emphasis marker and has roots in older Germanic usage; together with erste it creates a fused form that signals extremity rather than a simple ordinal position. In modern usage, allererste behaves like a standard adjective in terms of grammar and agreement.

Usage is most common before nouns to denote the earliest instance or position. Examples include das allererste Mal (the very first time), der allererste Tag (the very first day), and die allererste Begegnung (the very first encounter). With definite articles the form takes the usual adjective endings: der allererste Tag, das allererste Mal, die allererste Begegnung; with other determiners or in different cases, the form concords with the noun as expected.

In addition to its attributive use, allererste can appear in fixed expressions and, less frequently, in adverbial form as allererst, meaning first and foremost. This adverbial use emphasizes priority or order in discourse, similar to phrases like first and foremost in English.

Etymologically, aller- is an intensifying prefix that attaches to erste to produce a stronger sense than simply ersten or allererste in a neutral sense. The word is widely understood in contemporary German and appears in both spoken and written language, from everyday conversation to literary and media contexts.