primeiras

Primeiras is the feminine plural form of the Portuguese adjective primeira, meaning first. It is used to modify feminine plural nouns and is common in everyday language as well as in literary and journalistic contexts. Examples include as primeiras páginas (the first pages), as primeiras palavras (the first words), and as primeiras mulheres (the first women).

Beyond its role as an adjective, primeiras can function as part of a noun phrase referring to the initial items in a sequence, especially when the noun being described is understood from context. In such cases, the sense conveyed is “the initial ones” or “the early instances.” The meaning naturally depends on the noun that follows, as in as primeiras evidências (the initial pieces of evidence) or as primeiras etapas (the initial stages).

Etymology and grammar: primeira derives from Latin prima, meaning first, and has followed the typical Romance-language path to modern Portuguese. The plural form primeiras agrees in gender and number with the head noun it modifies. It should not be treated as a standalone concept with a fixed definition; its interpretation is determined by the noun it accompanies.

Beyond ordinary usage, primeiras may appear in titles, headings, or proper names where capitalization characters a distinctive stylistic choice. In those cases, it functions as part of a proper noun rather than as a generic lexical item.

In summary, primeiras is a standard plural form used to express the earliest items or phases described by feminine plural nouns, with usage spanning everyday language to formal writing.