inicialmente

Inicialmente is an adverb used in Portuguese and Spanish to indicate something that occurs at the beginning or in the early stage of a situation. In English, it corresponds to “initially” or “at first.” It is commonly employed to introduce a sequence of events or conditions and to set up a contrast with later developments.

Etymology and formation: The word derives from the adjective inicial, which comes from Latin initialis meaning “relating to the beginning,” itself from initium “beginning.” In both Portuguese and Spanish, -mente is added to form the adverbial equivalent, yielding inicialmente.

Usage and nuances: Inicialmente is versatile and can appear in formal and informal contexts. It signals that what follows concerns the first phase of an action, plan, or argument. It is often used in narratives, analyses, and explanations to frame a developmental sequence, for example to describe initial assumptions, conditions, or outcomes before changes occur. In many cases, it is followed by a statement introducing the subsequent situation, such as a contrast or revision.

Examples: In Portuguese: “Inicialmente, o projeto parecia viável.” In Spanish: “Inicialmente, el proyecto parecía viable.” In both languages, it may be paired with transitions like posteriormente, luego, or a seguir to mark progression.

See also: inicial, inicialmente.