how to pronounce first

/ˈfɜːst/

audio example by a male speaker

audio example by a female speaker

the above transcription of first is a detailed (narrow) transcription according to the rules of the International Phonetic Association; you can find a description of each symbol by clicking the phoneme buttons in the secction below.

first is pronounced in one syllable

press buttons with phonetic symbols to learn how to precisely pronounce each sound of first

1.

ɜː

example pitch curve for pronunciation of first

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video examples of first pronunciation

An example use of first in a speech by a native speaker of british english:

“… the top of the pass but first a bit of a …”

meaning of first

First means the first in a series or order.

first frequency in english - A1 level of CEFR

the word first occurs in english on average 1187 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for A1 level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.