Log inSign up

D'abord, faites un trou dans le bois.

D'abord, faites un trou dans le bois.
First, make a hole in the wood.
From Lesson 96:Sequence connectors (d'abord, puis...)·French

Questions & Answers about D'abord, faites un trou dans le bois.

Is d'abord always the first word you use when listing steps?
Yes, d'abord means "first" or "first of all." It sets up the very first step in a sequence. After this, you would introduce the following steps with words like ensuite (next) or puis (then), and wrap up with enfin (finally).
What does the d' in d'abord stand for?
It is the preposition de (of/from) dropping its "e" to blend into the word abord (an approach or edge). You don't need to translate it literally, though; d'abord is used as a single set phrase meaning "first."
Where is the "you" in this sentence? Why is it just faites?
This sentence is giving an instruction or command, which uses a form called the imperative. Just like in English where we say "make a hole" instead of "you make a hole," French drops the pronoun vous and simply uses the verb faites.
Can le bois also mean a forest?
Yes! Le bois translates to "wood" as a material, which fits perfectly here since someone is building or fixing something. But it can also mean "the woods" or a small forest, like in the phrase se promener dans les bois (to walk in the woods).

Learn D'abord, faites un trou dans le bois and more in French

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning French →