firstly
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firstly
Used to introduce the first point in an enumeration, list, or argument. It is often used in combination with 'zweitens' (secondly), 'drittens' (thirdly), etc.
Ich kann heute nicht kommen: Erstens bin ich krank und zweitens habe ich viel zu tun.
I can't come today: firstly, I'm sick, and secondly, I have a lot to do.
'Erstens' belongs to a series of adverbs derived from ordinal numbers. The pattern is 'ordinal number + -ens' and continues with 'zweitens' (secondly), 'drittens' (thirdly), 'viertens' (fourthly), and so on.
Es gibt drei Gründe: erstens das Wetter, zweitens die Kosten und drittens die weite Anreise.
There are three reasons: firstly the weather, secondly the costs, and thirdly the long journey.
When 'erstens' is at the beginning of the sentence (position 1), the conjugated verb follows directly after it (position 2). A comma after 'erstens' is wrong in this case.
Erstens müssen wir einen Plan machen.
Firstly, we need to make a plan.
'Erstens' is used to structure arguments or reasons clearly. It is often followed by 'zweitens' (secondly), but sometimes only 'erstens' is used to name the most important argument.
Warum ich nicht mitkomme? Erstens habe ich keine Lust.
Why am I not coming along? Firstly, I don't feel like it.
first / for now
Zunächst and erstens can mark the beginning of a line of thought. Zunächst introduces the first step, which is followed by the next step. Erstens explicitly numbers the first argument or point and is therefore often followed by zweitens (secondly).
Erstens sind die Kosten zu hoch, und zweitens ist der Termin ungünstig.
Firstly, the costs are too high, and secondly, the date is inconvenient.
Zunächst prüfen wir die Kosten, danach sprechen wir über den Termin.
First, we will check the costs, and then we will discuss the date.
