my first love

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "my first love" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the first person you ever had strong feelings for, such as a romantic or a platonic-love interest. For example: "My first love opened my eyes to the possibility of real, unconditional love."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But "my first love was always the Patriots.

Forbes

It was my first love.

The New York Times - Magazine

He is my first love.

Independent

SNOW was my first love.

The New York Times

"It's my first love story".

The New Yorker

It's my first love.

The Guardian

My first love was writing.

Columbia University

"Baseball was my first love," Steele said.

The New York Times - Sports

My first love, my other half.

The New York Times

Favourite sitcoms "They were my first love.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Marjorie was my first love.

The Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "my first love" to express a strong initial passion or affection for a person, hobby, or subject. Be mindful of the context to ensure it aligns with the intended sentiment.

Common error

Avoid using "my first love" to describe a short-lived or superficial interest. This phrase carries a weight of deep, lasting affection, so reserve it for something or someone truly significant.

Linguistic Context

My first love functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies the initial object of strong affection or passion. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is grammatically sound and widely recognized, showcased by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "my first love" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the initial object of deep affection or passion. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use. While generally appropriate for news, media, and informal settings, it may require careful consideration in highly formal contexts. The phrase functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or object, and its use expresses a deeply personal connection, often accompanied by nostalgia or enduring significance. Remember to reserve this meaningful phrase for instances that truly warrant its emotional weight, avoiding its application to fleeting interests.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

my first great love

Adds "great" before "love" to emphasize the intensity of the feeling.

my initial passion

Replaces "love" with "passion", focusing on intense enthusiasm rather than affection.

the one I first loved

Restructures the sentence to focus on the act of loving someone first.

my early affection

Substitutes "love" with "affection" and "first" with "early", indicating fondness from the beginning.

the object of my early affection

Changes the structure to focus on the object of affection using "object of", and specifies it's from an early stage using "early affection".

who I first fell for

Uses the idiom "fell for" instead of "love", adding a casual and relatable tone.

what I first adored

Replaces "love" with "adored", adding a sense of deep admiration.

what I initially cherished

Uses "cherished" in place of "love", emphasizing the value and care associated with the initial feeling.

my primary devotion

Replaces "love" with "devotion", highlighting a strong commitment or loyalty.

my original infatuation

Replaces "love" with "infatuation", suggesting a more intense but possibly short-lived feeling.

FAQs

How can I use "my first love" in a sentence?

You can use "my first love" to describe the first person you loved romantically, or the first activity/subject you felt passionate about. For example, "She was "my first love" and I'll never forget her" or "Writing will always be "my first love"".

What are some alternatives to saying "my first love"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "my initial passion", "my early affection", or "the one I first loved" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "my first love" in a formal setting?

While "my first love" is generally appropriate, consider your audience. In very formal settings, using a more precise term like "my initial passion" or "my early interest" might be more suitable, depending on what you are referencing.

Can "my first love" refer to a thing or an activity, or only a person?

"My first love" can refer to a person, a thing, or an activity. For example, you can say "He was "my first love"" or "Photography is "my first love"".