a first love

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a first love" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone's initial romantic experience or affection for someone, often evoking nostalgia or emotional significance. Example: "She often reminisces about her first love, the boy she met in high school."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

Or a first love.

The New York Times - Books

A first love service game for Murray.

The Guardian - Sport

"You always remember a first love".

The New York Times

She describes the role as being "like a first love".

Independent

"It was a first love," Mrs. Blackman said.

The New York Times

"There's al- ways something about a first love," she told an in- terviewer.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

"A second love succeeds.

The New York Times

"There's something very special about a second love," Mr. Langsdorf said.

The New York Times - Style

Then, Mr. Sales said, Ms. Ochoa tried to stand but fell on her knees in front of a second love seat on the other side of the room.

The New York Times

There's a fourth love story.

Huffington Post

A third love story could be the one in which Roy Cohn Frank Woodd) carries on an affair with himself.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about the intensity of "a first love", consider using vivid sensory details to capture the heightened emotions and experiences associated with it.

Common error

Be mindful of over-idealizing "a first love". While it's often remembered fondly, acknowledge potential immaturity or unrealistic expectations that may have been present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a first love" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI shows it describes an initial romantic experience, often carrying significant emotional weight.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Huffington Post

12%

Wikipedia

5%

Less common in

The New Yorker

2%

Science Magazine

2%

The Guardian

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a first love" is a common and evocative expression that refers to an individual's initial experience with romantic love. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and frequently used in various contexts, particularly in news and media. The phrase often carries a sense of nostalgia and emotional significance, representing a formative experience. While it's important to avoid over-romanticizing the past, "a first love" remains a powerful symbol of youthful passion and early relationships. Remember, it is correct to use "a first love" when you want to talk about a person's initial experience with love, which generally has an intense emotional impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one's first romance

Replaces "love" with "romance", emphasizing the romantic aspect of the initial experience.

an early romance

Highlights the romantic aspect and the early stage of the relationship.

first blush of love

Emphasizes the initial, fresh, and often idealized nature of first love.

early infatuation

Focuses on the intensity and often fleeting nature of initial romantic feelings.

first love affair

More directly emphasizes the romantic involvement.

initial affection

Replaces "love" with the more general term "affection", broadening the scope slightly.

a youthful passion

Highlights the energy and intensity associated with young love.

puppy love

An informal term for a young person's first experience of romantic love, often seen as innocent or fleeting.

the first experience of love

More descriptive and less idiomatic than "a first love".

a childhood sweetheart

Focuses on the person who was the object of one's first love during childhood.

FAQs

How do you use "a first love" in a sentence?

"A first love" is typically used to describe someone's initial romantic experience. For example, "She often thinks about her "a first love" and how it shaped her views on relationships".

What can I say instead of "a first love"?

You can use alternatives like "early infatuation", "initial affection", or "puppy love" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a first love" always a romantic relationship?

While "a first love" most commonly refers to a romantic relationship, it can sometimes be used metaphorically to describe a strong initial passion or interest in something, such as "a first love" for a particular hobby or art form.

What's the difference between "a first love" and "true love"?

"A first love" refers specifically to someone's initial experience with romantic love, while "true love" implies a deeper, more enduring, and significant connection that may or may not be a person's first experience.