adj Uncommon

primal

PREYE-muhl

Primal (adj) means existing from the earliest times; original or fundamental. Example: “The documentary explored humanity's primal fear of the dark.”

adj

Existing from the earliest times; original or fundamental.

"The documentary explored humanity's primal fear of the dark."

"There's a primal instinct that makes us flinch at loud noises."

How to use primal

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRelating to our most basic, original instincts or to the very earliest stage of something.

Common pairings

primal instinct primal fear primal urge

Word forms

primaled past tense, primalled past tense, primals plural, primals singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “primal” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The documentary explored humanity's _____ fear of the dark.

Etymology

From Latin prīmus ("first") combined with the adjective suffix -al.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for primal

animal decimal optimal minimal proximal

See all rhymes for primal →

Frequently asked questions

What does “primal” mean?

The word “primal” means existing from the earliest times; original or fundamental. In plain terms, relating to our most basic, original instincts or to the very earliest stage of something.

How do you pronounce “primal”?

“Primal” is pronounced PREYE-muhl (/ˈpɹaɪməl/ in IPA).

How do you use “primal” in a sentence?

Here is “primal” used in a sentence: “The documentary explored humanity's primal fear of the dark.”

What part of speech is “primal”?

“Primal” is an adjective.

Where does the word “primal” come from?

The word “primal” comes from Latin. From Latin prīmus ("first") combined with the adjective suffix -al.

Is “primal” a common word?

“Primal” is an uncommon word in modern English.