Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

erst

/ɝst/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.81 in modern English

Syllables: erst
IPA: /ɝst/

4

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Obsolete

adv

First of all, before (some other specified thing).

Obsolete

adv

Sooner (than); before.

Obsolete

adv

Formerly, once, erstwhile.

Archaic

Example Sentences

"Consider what I erst have been and what thou seest me now:"
"Thenne he sente the varlet ageyne and bad hym telle Kyng Mark that I wille come as soone as I am hole / for erste I maye doo hym noo good "Then he sent the varlet again, and bade him: Tell King Mark that I will come as soon as I am whole, for erst I may do him no good. ""
"When lofty trees I see barren of leaves Which erst from heat did canopy the herd"

Etymology

From Middle English erste, from Old English ǣresta (“first”), from Proto-West Germanic *airist (“earliest, first”), equivalent to ere + -est. Cognate with North Frisian iarst, iáárs, jarst, jest (“first”), West Frisian earst (“first”), Dutch eerste (“first”), German erste (“first”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: erste, ǣresta, *airist
Suffix: ere

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɝst/
British English: /ɜːst/

Usage

Inflected Forms

arste (alternative) yerst (alternative)

Derived Forms

erstwhile

Synonyms

once formerly at one time erstwhile

Rhymes With

first worst 1st burst cursed thirst dispersed versed hurst traversed durst wurst

Questions

How do you pronounce erst?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɝst/.
What does erst mean?: First.
Where does erst come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce erst

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “erst”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɝst/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “erst”.
Repeat and practice — Say “erst” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.