lehenengo / gero / azkenik

Sequencing Words

Level 2

To tell what happened in order, use lehenengo (first), gero (then, later) and azkenik (finally). orduan means "then" in the sense of "at that moment" or "so".

How It Works

  • lehenengo or lehenik: first
  • gero or ondoren: then, after that
  • orduan: then, at that time; also "so, in that case"
  • azkenik: finally, lastly

Telling a story. Use the simple past for each step: Lehenengo gosaldu nuen, gero lanera joan nintzen, eta azkenik etxera itzuli nintzen.

Giving instructions. The same words order the steps of a recipe or of directions: Lehenengo, ura berotu. Gero, pasta bota. Azkenik, gatza gehitu. (First, heat the water. Then add the pasta. Finally, add salt.)

gero or orduan? gero moves the story on to the next step. orduan points to the moment you are already talking about: Etxera iritsi nintzen, eta orduan telefonoak jo zuen (I got home, and just then the phone rang). Orduan also means "so" or "in that case": Nekatuta zaude? Orduan, geratu etxean. (You're tired? Then stay home.)

azkenik and azkenean. azkenik usually introduces the last step or the last point. For "in the end" or "eventually", after a wait or a change of plans, speakers usually say azkenean: Azkenean, ez zen etorri (In the end, he didn't come).

gero alone also means "later": Gero deituko dizut (I will call you later). You know it already from gero arte (see you later).

lehenengo can also stand before a noun: lehenengo aldiz (for the first time), like the ordinal numbers. lehenik only means "firstly" and never goes before a noun.

Examples (6)

  1. Lehenengo gosaldu nuen, gero lanera joan nintzen.

    First I had breakfast, then I went to work.

  2. Azkenik, etxera itzuli nintzen.

    Finally, I went back home.

  3. Lehenengo, ura berotu. Gero, pasta bota.

    First, heat the water. Then add the pasta.

    Instructions can use the participle alone as a command.

  4. Etxera iritsi nintzen, eta orduan telefonoak jo zuen.

    I got home, and just then the phone rang.

    orduan points to that exact moment.

  5. Gero deituko dizut.

    I will call you later.

    Here gero means "later".

  6. Azkenean, ez zen etorri.

    In the end, he didn't come.

Common Mistakes

  • Using lehenik before a noun.

    Lehenik aldiz nago hemen.
    Lehenengo aldiz nago hemen.

    lehenik only means "firstly". Before a noun, use lehenengo or lehen.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

lehenengo / gero / azkenikLevel 2Sequencing Words

Learn This First

Sequencing words follow the basic connectors.

Words in This Pattern

lehenengogero