adverb

erstmal

first

Definition & meaning

The word erstmal is a common adverb in German that functions as a contraction of "erst einmal." It generally conveys the idea of "for now," "for the time being," or "first of all."

It has two primary nuances depending on the context:

Temporary status: It indicates that something is happening for the moment, implying that the situation might change later. For example: "Ich bleibe erstmal hier" (I will stay here for now).
Sequential action: It is used to suggest that an action is the first step in a series of planned events. For example: "Lass uns erstmal essen" (Let us eat first/to begin with).

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar: It is an adverb. Because it is a colloquial contraction of "erst" and "einmal," it is frequently used in spoken German and informal writing.
Origin: It is derived from the combination of "erst" (first) and "einmal" (once). Over time, the phrase was shortened in speech to create the single-word form "erstmal."