första

Första is a Swedish ordinal numeral meaning “the first.” It is used to denote the initial item in a sequence or to indicate priority, and it commonly functions as an adjective before a noun or in fixed expressions such as “första gången” (the first time).

As a modifier, første används before singular nouns to mark order in a series. Examples include phrases like “första kapitlet” and “första platsen.” It also appears in time-related expressions such as “första gången” or in common dates and holidays rendered with ordinal meaning, for example “Första maj” (May Day). In named events or historical terms, it can appear as part of a proper name, such as “Första världskriget” (World War I).

Grammatically, första agrees with the noun it modifies in number and definiteness, and it is used in both indefinite and definite contexts when forming noun phrases. The word is also encountered in headlines and titles, where capitalization may reflect stylistic choices.

Etymology traces första to older Germanic roots, cognate with Danish første and Norwegian første, and related to the English word first. The form reflects historical developments in the Scandinavian languages, where the ordinal numerals evolved from roots meaning “first” or “foremost.”

See also: first (comparison with other Germanic languages), andra (second), tredje (third). In Swedish usage, förs­ta/första appear in everyday language as the standard way to indicate the initial item in a sequence, as well as in fixed expressions and historical or ceremonial phrases.