French Phrase
D'abord, je vais parler de...
Meaning
Literally 'First, I am going to talk about…', this phrase is used to introduce the first point of a presentation, essay, or conversation. It signals that the speaker is about to outline a topic before moving on to other ideas.
When to use
Use it at the beginning of a structured discourse—classroom presentations, business meetings, debates, or written introductions—when you want to clearly mark the first item in a list of points.
✦Grammar Breakdown
D'abord,jevaisparlerde...
D'abord
An adverb meaning 'first' or 'to start with', used to order ideas in speech or writing.
je
Subject pronoun for the first person singular.
vais
Present tense of the auxiliary verb *aller*; together with an infinitive it forms the near‑future construction.
parler
Infinitive verb meaning 'to talk' or 'to speak'.
de
Preposition introducing the topic that will be discussed.
🗨In Conversation
D'abord, je vais parler de l'impact du changement climatique sur l'agriculture.
First, I'm going to talk about the impact of climate change on agriculture.
Très bien, puis nous aborderons les solutions technologiques.
Very well, then we will discuss technological solutions.
✕Common Mistakes
D'abord, je parlerai de...
Using the simple future (*je parlerai*) is correct but changes the nuance; *je vais parler* conveys a more immediate, informal plan.
D'abord je vais parler de...
Missing the comma can make the sentence feel rushed; the pause after *D'abord* is important for clarity.
D'abord, je vais parler à le sujet de...
The preposition *à* means 'to' someone; you need *de* to introduce the topic.
↔Alternatives
Tout d'abord, je vais aborder le sujet de...
First of all, I will address the subject of...
En premier lieu, je parlerai de...
In the first place, I will speak about...
Premièrement, je vais évoquer...
Firstly, I will mention...
Cultural Tip
In formal French, *Tout d'abord* is slightly more polished than the shortened *D'abord*, especially in written introductions. However, both are perfectly acceptable in spoken French. Remember to keep the tone consistent: if you start with a formal register, continue with formal vocabulary throughout the presentation.