esialgu

Esialgu is an Estonian adverb meaning "for the time being; at first; initially." It signals that a described state is provisional or the initial stage of a process and that circumstances may change later.

Used in both spoken and written Estonian, esialgu often accompanies sentences describing plans, arrangements, or assessments that are not final. It is commonly placed at the start of a clause to frame a temporary or evolving situation. The word contrasts with expressions meaning final or definite conclusions, such as lõplik or lõpuks, and with algul, which emphasizes an opening stage.

Examples: Esialgu plaanime alustada projekti järgmisel kuul. Esialgu on see lahendus ajutine. Esialgu kehtivad need reeglid. (For now we plan to start the project next month. For now this solution is temporary. For now these rules apply.)

Origin and usage notes: Esialgu is a native Estonian word. It is widely used in formal and informal contexts to indicate provisional status, especially in planning, reporting, and descriptions of evolving situations.