French Phrase
Je regarde d'abord mon téléphone.
Meaning
This phrase describes a common modern habit of checking one's smartphone before starting any other daily activities. It uses the present tense to indicate a recurring action or routine.
When to use
Use this phrase when discussing your morning routine or explaining the order of your actions to friends. It is perfect for casual conversations about daily habits and technology usage.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jeregarded'abordmontéléphone
Regarder
A regular -er verb conjugated in the first person singular present tense. It means to look at or to watch.
D'abord
A transition word used to sequence events, equivalent to 'first' or 'first of all' in English.
Mon
A possessive adjective used for masculine singular nouns. It must agree with 'téléphone'.
🗨In Conversation
Quelle est ta routine du matin ?
What is your morning routine?
Je regarde d'abord mon téléphone, puis je prends un café.
I look at my phone first, then I have a coffee.
✕Common Mistakes
Je regarde d'abord à mon téléphone.
In French, 'regarder' is a direct transitive verb and does not need the preposition 'à' when you are looking at an object.
Je regarde mon téléphone premier.
Use 'd'abord' to mean 'firstly' in a sequence. 'Premier' is an adjective meaning 'the first' and doesn't fit here as an adverb.
↔Alternatives
Je consulte mes messages en premier.
I check my messages first.
D'abord, je jette un coup d'œil à mon portable.
First, I take a look at my cell phone.
Cultural Tip
While checking phones is universal, French workplace culture has laws regarding the 'right to disconnect' outside of office hours. However, in private life, 'le portable' or 'le smartphone' is just as central to daily life as anywhere else in the world.