Skip to content

primordial

primordial; fundamental

adjective pree-mohr-DYAHL Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Quality

Origin: From Latin primordialis, from primordium (beginning), from primus (first) + ordiri (to begin).

Also means

paramount

Usage Note

Primordial describes something of the greatest importance or belonging to the earliest origins — instinto primordial (primordial instinct), de importancia primordial (of paramount importance). It does not change for gender (el objetivo primordial, la cuestión primordial) but adds -es in the plural. It is a formal, often academic or journalistic word.

Examples

"La seguridad es de importancia primordial aquí."

Natural Translation

Safety is of paramount importance here.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore Spanish by topic