What does premier in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word premier in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use premier in French.

The word premier in French means first, largest, biggest, primary, main, original, prime, first, the first, top, the first, tribal art, ethnographic art, at first sight, primarily, at first glance, literally, at face value, first, in the foreground, at the forefront, in the forefront, to the forefront, in the front row, at the top of the priorities list, at first sight, at first glance, BEPC, brevet, first-degree burn, from your first marriage, first, of high quality, of the first order, high-profile, leading, top, first time, first try, first attempt, instinctive, immediate, first, first, firstly, in the first place, first of all, primary school teacher, first degree equation, make the first move, first aid techniques, the first step is always the hardest, infant formula, first infant formula, infant formula milk, the first of every month, the first of the year, the first day of the year, the first person who comes along, bring to the forefront, first-degree murder, born from a first marriage, prime number, not just anybody, go first, leading character, body of a film star, body of a Greek god, body of an Adonis, babyhood, infancy, first love, April Fools' Day, April Fool!, high quality, first communicant, first meeting, undergraduate studies, leader, lead climber, New Year's Day, literal sense, literal meaning, primary education, the first of the month, first of the name, first part of the answer, first part of the response, First French Empire, French Empire, first floor, first draft, May Day, Chief Petty Officer, prime meridian, prime minister, first step, foreground, first law of thermodynamics, first prize, budget, first quarter, front row, first row, lead, leading role, leading actress, leading actor, First Secretary, first round, first violin, firstborn child, firstborn, take literally, first principle, New Year's Eve, come first, finish first, very first, the very first, first-floor neighbour. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word premier

first

adjectif (de rang 1)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
C'est la première fois que je visite cette ville. // Jules César est mort au premier siècle (or: Iᵉʳ siècle) avant Jésus-Christ. // Je serai absent les deux premières semaines de juillet.
Julius Caesar died in the 1st century BC.

largest, biggest

adjectif (le mieux classé)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Notre entreprise est le premier employeur de la région.

primary, main

adjectif (principal, fondamental)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
C'est la raison première de ma venue ici.
It's the main reason for my visit here.

original

adjectif (soutenu (d'origine)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Ce tonneau a retrouvé sa fonction première.
That barrel has returned to its original function.

prime

adjectif (Mathématiques)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Un nombre premier est un entier tel que sa valeur absolue n'a que deux diviseurs.
A prime number is a whole number whose absolute value has only two divisors.

first, the first

(premier venu)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
C'est mon frère qui est arrivé le premier à la fête. Le premier qui trouvera la bonne réponse aura un bonbon !
My brother was the first one at the party.

top

(meilleur)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Loïc est le premier de sa classe.
Loïc is first in his class.

the first

nom masculin (premier jour du mois)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le loyer doit être payé le premier du mois. Notre séminaire aura lieu le premier juin.
Our seminar will take place on 1 June.

tribal art, ethnographic art

nom masculin (création traditionnelle)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le musée d'art premier expose sculptures, masques et parures.

at first sight

locution adverbiale (selon la première impression)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

primarily

locution adverbiale (soutenu (tout particulièrement)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
La prévention s'adresse au premier chef aux jeunes.

at first glance

locution adverbiale (immédiatement)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

literally, at face value

locution adverbiale (au sens propre)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Mais oui, il faut prendre ce que je te dis au premier degré.

first

locution adverbiale (de la même génération) (relationship)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
C'est mon cousin au premier degré.
He's my first cousin.

in the foreground

locution adverbiale (devant les autres)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Dans ce tableau, au premier plan, on voit deux dames qui discutent et au deuxième plan, des enfants qui s'amusent.

at the forefront, in the forefront, to the forefront

locution adjectivale (en première instance)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
L'emploi est placé au premier plan de l'action gouvernementale. Cette réunion doit traiter au premier plan le lancement de la nouvelle gamme.

in the front row

locution adverbiale (devant)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

at the top of the priorities list

locution adverbiale (figuré (placé en priorité)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
L'accompagnement des victimes est au premier rang des préoccupations du gouvernement.

at first sight

locution adverbiale (dès le début)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

at first glance

locution adverbiale (en première impression)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

BEPC

nom masculin (abr, France, vieilli (brevet des collèges) (French qualification, acronym, obsolete)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ma mère a obtenu son BEPC avec un an d'avance.

brevet

nom masculin (France, vieilli (diplôme national du brevet) (French qualification)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le brevet d'études du premier cycle se passait en fin de collège.

first-degree burn

nom féminin (brûlure superficielle) (injury)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
C'est une brûlure au premier degré, une pommade la soignera.

from your first marriage

locution adverbiale (d'un 1er mariage)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Pierre était le fils que Jeanne avait eu d'un premier lit.
Peter is Jean's son from her first marriage.

first

locution adverbiale (d'abord, avant réflexion approfondie)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Dans un premier temps, nous allons faire notre site web en anglais. Puis, dans un second temps, nous le traduirons en espagnol si nous avons les fonds nécessaires.
First, we'll do our website in English. Then we'll translate it into Spanish, if we can afford it.

of high quality

locution adjectivale (de bonne qualité) (goods)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Les produits de premier choix sont censés être sans défaut.

of the first order

locution adjectivale (de grande qualité) (formal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

high-profile, leading, top

locution adjectivale (exceptionnel, remarquable)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

first time, first try, first attempt

locution adverbiale (à la première tentative)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
I succeeded in making this pie on my first attempt!

instinctive, immediate

locution adverbiale (de l'ébauche initiale)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Les idées du premier jet sont souvent les meilleures.

first

locution adverbiale (avant tous les autres)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Le chef arrive toujours en premier.
The boss always arrives first.

first, firstly

locution adverbiale (avant toute autre chose)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
En premier, il faut déterminer nos ressources.
Firstly, we have to see what money we have.

in the first place, first of all

locution adverbiale (tout d'abord)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
En premier lieu, il convient de faire un bilan de la situation.
First of all, we should take stock of the situation.

primary school teacher

(instituteur) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Pierre est un enseignant du premier degré à l'école du village.

first degree equation

nom féminin (égalité de proportionnalité)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Dans une équation du premier degré, les puissances des inconnues sont de 1 ou 0.

make the first move

locution verbale (se lancer, oser en premier)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
C'est lui qui a fait le premier pas pour se réconcilier avec son amie.

first aid techniques

nom masculin pluriel (geste de secours vital)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")

the first step is always the hardest

(il faut oser)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Je vais en parler au directeur. Il n'y a que le premier pas qui coûte.

infant formula, first infant formula, infant formula milk

nom masculin (lait utilisé jusqu'à 5 mois)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le lait de premier âge est le premier lait artificiel pour nourrissons de la naissance à cinq mois.

the first of every month

locution adverbiale (le premier jour de chaque mois)

the first of the year, the first day of the year

nom masculin (le premier jour de l'année)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

the first person who comes along

nom masculin (figuré (personne quelconque)

bring to the forefront

locution verbale (mettre en avant)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pour que ces bijoux soient remarqués, il faut les mettre en premier plan dans la vitrine.

first-degree murder

nom masculin (meurtre prémédité) (homicide)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

born from a first marriage

locution adjectivale (né du premier conjoint)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

prime number

nom masculin (nombre divisible par 1 et lui-même) (Mathematics)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

not just anybody

nom masculin (non naïf)

go first

locution verbale (passer avant les autres)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

leading character

nom masculin ([qqn] d'importance)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

body of a film star, body of a Greek god, body of an Adonis

nom masculin (physique jeune et séduisant)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

babyhood

nom masculin (vie de 0 à 6 mois)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

infancy

locution adjectivale (pour nourrissons)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

first love

nom masculin (1ère personne aimée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
On n'oublie jamais son premier amour.

April Fools' Day

nom propre masculin (jour consacré aux blagues)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Attention, nous sommes le 1er avril, c'est le jour des « poissons d'avril ».

April Fool!

interjection (c'était une blague !)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
Oh, il tombe des billets ! Premier avril !

high quality

nom masculin (qualité la meilleure)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

first communicant

(celui qui fait sa première communion)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les premiers communiants sont invités à venir dans le chœur.

first meeting

nom masculin (première rencontre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il est important de donner une bonne impression lors du premier contact.

undergraduate studies

nom masculin (première partie des études)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
Le premier cycle universitaire se compose de trois années d'études après le baccalauréat.

leader, lead climber

nom masculin ([qqn] en tête d'une cordée) (Climbing)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

New Year's Day

nom masculin (premier jour de l'année) (1 January)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

literal sense, literal meaning

nom masculin (sens propre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce que je te dis est au premier degré : cela se perçoit de façon évidente et doit être compris à la lettre.

primary education

nom masculin (France (enseignement primaire) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Je vais enseigner en primaire l'année prochaine et je cherche donc des ressources pour le premier degré.

the first of the month

nom masculin (premier jour du mois)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

first of the name

(premier à porter un patronyme) (formal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

first part of the answer, first part of the response

nom masculin (début de réponse)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

First French Empire, French Empire

nom propre masculin (empire de Napoléon Bonaparte) (historical)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

first floor

nom masculin (étage au-dessus du rez-de-chaussée) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Au rez-de-chaussée se trouvent le salon et la cuisine et au premier étage se trouvent les chambres et la salle de bains.

first draft

nom masculin (ébauche)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

May Day

nom masculin (fête du travail) (holiday, festival)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le 1er Mai est un jour férié en France. J'ai offert du muguet à mes parents pour le Premier Mai.

Chief Petty Officer

nom masculin (grade de sous-officier de marine) (Navy)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

prime meridian

nom masculin (méridien de référence)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

prime minister

(chef de gouvernement) (often capitalized)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
C'est le Premier ministre qui dirige le conseil des ministres.

first step

nom masculin (initiative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cette fille sait faire le premier pas.

foreground

nom masculin (partie avant d'une scène)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Mon fils est au premier plan sur cette photo.

first law of thermodynamics

nom masculin (principe de conservation de l'énergie) (physics)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

first prize

nom masculin (prix du vainqueur) (competition)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

budget

locution adjectivale (pas cher) (commerce)

(noun as adjective: Describes another noun--for example, "boat race," "dogfood.")

first quarter

nom masculin (phase de la Lune) (Moon)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

front row, first row

nom masculin (rang de devant)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

lead

nom masculin (acteur principal) (actor)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

leading role

nom masculin (figuré (poste influent) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

leading actress

nom masculin (personnage féminin principal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
The leading lady is Helena Bonham Carter.

leading actor

nom masculin (personnage masculin principal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
The leading man is Johnny Depp.

First Secretary

(titre de parti politique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

first round

nom masculin (élection : 1ère phase) (election)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

first violin

nom masculin (orchestre : violoniste principal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

firstborn child, firstborn

(1er enfant)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Gabriel est le premier-né de sa fratrie.

take literally

locution verbale (appliquer littéralement)

C'est fatigant parce que mon collègue prend tout ce que je dis au premier degré alors que moi, je plaisante.

first principle

nom masculin (dogme, postulat)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

New Year's Eve

nom masculin (nuit du 31 décembre au 1er janvier)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Je passe le réveillon du Premier de l'an chez ma sœur.

come first, finish first

(compétition : finir premier)

very first

locution adjectivale (premier)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
C'est le tout premier album de Niagara.
This is Niagara's very first album.

the very first

(premier)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce policier est le tout premier a être arrivé sur les lieux.

first-floor neighbour

(voisin du premier étage) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Let's learn French

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French (le français) is a Romance language. Like Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, it comes from popular Latin, once used in the Roman Empire. A French-speaking person or country can be called a "Francophone". French is the official language in 29 countries. French is the fourth most spoken native language in the European Union. French ranks third in the EU, after English and German, and is the second most widely taught language after English. The majority of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, with about 141 million Africans from 34 countries and territories who can speak French as a first or second language. French is the second most widely spoken language in Canada, after English, and both are official languages at the federal level. It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29% and the second language of 2.07 million people or 6% of the entire population of Canada. In contrast to other continents, French has no popularity in Asia. Currently, no country in Asia recognizes French as an official language.