adj Uncommon

prima

PREE-muh

Prima (adj) means Foremost or most important, typically used before a title (as in "prima donna" or "prima ballerina"). Example: “She trained for years to become a prima ballerina.”

adj

Foremost or most important, typically used before a title (as in "prima donna" or "prima ballerina").

"She trained for years to become a prima ballerina."

How to use prima

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsed before words like "donna" or "ballerina" to mean the leading or top performer.

Common pairings

prima donna prima ballerina

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She trained for years to become a _____ ballerina.

Etymology

From Italian prima, "first," from Latin prīma.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for prima

Ima lima sima Dima Mima Shima Fatima Jemima Kojima Tajima Oshima Cosima

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Frequently asked questions

What does “prima” mean?

The word “prima” means foremost or most important, typically used before a title (as in "prima donna" or "prima ballerina"). In plain terms, used before words like "donna" or "ballerina" to mean the leading or top performer.

How do you pronounce “prima”?

“Prima” is pronounced PREE-muh (/ˈpɹiː.mə/ in IPA).

How do you use “prima” in a sentence?

Here is “prima” used in a sentence: “She trained for years to become a prima ballerina.”

What part of speech is “prima”?

“Prima” is an adjective.

Where does the word “prima” come from?

The word “prima” comes from Latin. From Italian prima, "first," from Latin prīma.

Is “prima” a common word?

“Prima” is an uncommon word in modern English.