You use firstly in speech or writing when you want to give a reason, make a point, or mention an item that will be followed by others connected with it.
The programme is behind schedule as a result, firstly, of increased costs, then oftechnical problems.
Vitamin C has many roles to play in weight control. Firstly, it is needed for hormoneproduction.
Synonyms: in the first place, initially, to begin with, to start with More Synonyms of firstly
firstly in British English
(ˈfɜːstlɪ)
adverb
coming before other points, questions, etc
firstly in American English
(ˈfɜrstli)
adverb
in the first place; first
used chiefly in enumerating topics
Examples of 'firstly' in a sentence
firstly
Firstly the carping about the result.
The Sun (2014)
Firstly, well done on making it all the way over here.
The Sun (2012)
Well firstly, who knew?
The Sun (2016)
In other languages
firstly
British English: firstly /ˈfɜːstlɪ/ ADVERB
You use firstly when you are about to mention the first in a series of items.
Noise affects us in two ways. Firstly, it can damage hearing.
American English: firstly
Arabic: أولاً
Brazilian Portuguese: primeiramente
Chinese: 首先
Croatian: kao prvo
Czech: zaprvé
Danish: for det første
Dutch: als eerste
European Spanish: en primer lugar
Finnish: ensiksikin
French: premièrement
German: zuerst
Greek: πρώτον
Italian: per prima cosa
Japanese: まず第一に
Korean: 첫째로
Norwegian: for det første
Polish: po pierwsze
European Portuguese: primeiramente
Romanian: în primul rând
Russian: во-первых
Latin American Spanish: primeramente
Swedish: för det första
Thai: อันดับแรก
Turkish: öncelikle
Ukrainian: по-перше
Vietnamese: trước tiên
Chinese translation of 'firstly'
firstly
(ˈfəːstlɪ)
adv
首先 (shǒuxiān)
(adverb)
Firstly, vitamin C is needed for hormone production.
Synonyms
in the first place
initially
Initially, they were wary of us.
to begin with
It was great to begin with but now it's difficult.
to start with
before all else
Additional synonyms
in the sense of initially
Initially, they were wary of us.
Synonyms
at first,
first,
firstly,
originally,
primarily,
at the start,
in the first place,
to begin with,
at the outset,
in the beginning,
in the early stages,
at or in the beginning
in the sense of to begin with
It was great to begin with but now it's difficult.