pierwsza

Pierwsza is the feminine singular form of the Polish adjective pierwszy, meaning "first." It is used to describe a feminine noun and agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case.

In everyday usage, pierwsza denotes position in a sequence or rank, or the earliest occurrence in time. Examples include phrases like pierwsza dama (First Lady), pierwsza strona podręcznika (the first page of the textbook), or pierwsza połowa roku (the first half of the year). It can also indicate priority or importance, as in pierwsza kolejność (the first order) or pierwsze miejsce (the first place).

Morphology and agreement: as with other Polish adjectives, pierwsza changes form according to grammatical case. The nominative singular form is pierwsza; in the genitive and locative it is pierwszej, in the dative it is pierwszej, and in the accusative and instrumental it is pierwszą. The form for other cases and for plural nouns follows the standard rules of Polish adjective declension.

Origin and related forms: pierwsza derives from the same root as the adjective pierw­szy, which carries the notion of primacy or initial position. Related words include pierwotny (original, primordial) and other derivatives built from the stem pierw- that conveys the sense of being first or primary.

See also: pierw­szy, pierwsze, pierwsza dama.