German Phrase
Das ist das erste Mal.
Meaning
Literally “That is the first time.” The sentence is used to state that something is happening for the very first time, often in response to a question about experience.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to tell someone that you have never done something before, or when you are witnessing an event that is occurring for the first time.
✦Grammar Breakdown
DasistdasersteMal
Das (demonstrative pronoun)
Used here as a neutral demonstrative pronoun meaning “this/that”. It points to the situation being described.
ist (sein)
Third‑person singular present of the verb “to be”. It links the subject (Das) with the predicate (das erste Mal).
das (definite article)
Neuter nominative article that agrees with the noun “Mal”. It makes the phrase specific.
erste (ordinal number)
The neuter nominative form of the ordinal “first”. It modifies the noun “Mal”.
Mal (noun)
A neuter noun meaning “time” or “occasion”. In expressions like “das erste Mal” it denotes an occurrence.
🗨In Conversation
Hast du schon mal Fallschirmspringen gemacht?
Have you ever gone sky‑diving?
Nein, das ist das erste Mal.
No, this is the first time.
✕Common Mistakes
Das ist das erstes Mal.
The adjective must agree with the neuter noun “Mal”; use “erste” (nominative neuter) not “erstes”.
Das ist das erste mal.
Nouns are capitalised in German; write “Mal” with a capital M.
Das ist das erste Mal?
When stating a fact, end with a period. Use a question mark only if you are asking: “Ist das das erste Mal?”
↔Alternatives
Ich mache das zum ersten Mal.
I am doing this for the first time.
Das ist das erste Mal, dass ich das mache.
This is the first time that I do this.
Erstes Mal.
First time.
Cultural Tip
In German, “Mal” is used as a countable noun for occasions. The phrase always takes the neuter article “das” because “Mal” is neuter. In informal speech you may hear “erstes Mal” without the article, but the full form “das erste Mal” is the standard, especially in written German.