erstmal

Based on: erst, mal
Adverb
  1. first
  2. for now
1.

first

(In a temporal sense, before something else.)
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Examples
  •  Maria ist immer erst mal ein bisschen schüchtern, aber sie wird schnell locker.
  • At first, Maria is always a bit shy, but she loosens up quickly.
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2.

for now

(Usually in a sentence where something ends or is accomplished. )
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Examples
  • "Sorry, ich muss erstmal Kaffee trinken bevor ich irgendwas machen kann.""Es ist 9:30. Du bist schon auf Arbeit."
  • "Sorry, I need to drink a coffee first before I can do anything.""It's 9:30. You're at work already."

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Sources for Etymology:

My Articles

The Meaning and Use of “erst”

'erst' means 'first', but that's only half the story. It's also a specific type of "only". Today, we'll explore which 'only' and how to use 'erst' as 'first'.

Vocab: erst, erste, erstes, erst mal, erst vs schon

Read article →

The Particle “mal” Explained

Sometimes mal means “at some point.” Sometimes it just makes a sentence sound more casual. Today, we'll learn how Germans use it in various ways.

Vocab: mal, noch mal, nicht mal, erstmal, gerade mal, schon mal

Read article →

Questions and Comments

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How many meanings does the German word 'erstmal' have?

erstmal has 2 distinct meanings: 1. first , 2. for now.

What is 'erstmal' related to?

The word 'erstmal' is related to erst and mal.

Where can I learn more about 'erstmal'?

Here are some articles where you can learn more about 'erstmal':

The Meaning and Use of “erst”
'erst' means 'first', but that's only half the story. It's also a specific type of "only". Today, we'll explore which 'only' and how to use 'erst' as 'first'.
Vocab: erst, erste, erstes, erst mal, erst vs schon
Read article

The Particle “mal” Explained
Sometimes mal means “at some point.” Sometimes it just makes a sentence sound more casual. Today, we'll learn how Germans use it in various ways.
Vocab: mal, noch mal, nicht mal, erstmal, gerade mal, schon mal
Read article