en primera instancia (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

The phrase "en primera instancia" functions as an adverbial expression in Spanish.

Phonetic Transcription

/en pɾiˈmeɾa insˈtansja/

Translation Options into English

• in the first instance
• initially
• at first

Meaning and Usage

"En primera instancia" is commonly used to refer to an initial action or consideration, often before something becomes more complicated or before further stages are reached. It denotes the idea of the first step in a process or the first aspect to be taken into account when evaluating a situation. This expression is frequently used in both spoken and written Spanish, particularly in formal contexts such as legal and academic discussions.

Example Sentences

1. En primera instancia, debemos analizar los resultados de la encuesta.
   In the first instance, we must analyze the survey results.

2. La ley establece que, en primera instancia, la decisión se tomará en el tribunal local.
   The law states that, in the first instance, the decision will be made in the local court.

3. En primera instancia, fue un malentendido que se podría haber evitado.
   At first, it was a misunderstanding that could have been avoided.

Idiomatic Expressions

The phrase "en primera instancia" is part of various idiomatic expressions, particularly in formal discourse relating to law and decision-making.

1. En primera instancia, se debe escuchar a todas las partes involucradas.
   In the first instance, all parties involved should be heard.

2. Cuando se enfrenta a un problema, en primera instancia es útil hacer una lista de posibles soluciones.
   When facing a problem, it is helpful, in the first instance, to make a list of possible solutions.

3. En primera instancia, sin duda, es importante que estemos bien informados.
   At first, undoubtedly, it is important that we are well informed.

4. En política, en primera instancia, hay que considerar las necesidades de la población.
   In politics, at first, we must consider the needs of the population.

5. La discusión, en primera instancia, giró en torno a los costos del proyecto.
   The discussion, in the first instance, revolved around the costs of the project.

Etymology

The phrase "en primera instancia" derives from Spanish, where "en" means "in," "primera" means "first," and "instancia" originates from the Latin "instantia," which means "presence" or "standing." The combination thus conveys the idea of an initial presence or occurrence.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - inicialmente (initially) - al principio (at the beginning)

Antonyms: - en última instancia (in the last instance) - finalmente (finally)