Spanish Phrase
Primero, consulta a un abogado.
Meaning
‘First, consult a lawyer.’ The sentence gives a piece of advice, emphasizing that seeking legal counsel should be the initial step before proceeding with any legal matter.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are outlining a series of steps, especially in legal contexts, or when someone asks what they should do before signing a contract, filing a claim, or taking any action that could have legal consequences.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Primero,consultaaunabogado.
Primero (adverb)
Used to indicate the first step in a sequence; placed at the beginning of the sentence.
consulta (imperative)
Second‑person singular imperative of the verb consultar, meaning ‘to consult’ or ‘to ask for advice’.
a (personal a)
Introduces a specific person as the direct object; required before people (a un abogado).
un (indefinite article)
Masculine singular indefinite article, matching the gender of abogado.
abogado (noun)
Masculine noun meaning ‘lawyer’; can be replaced with other professions.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué debo hacer antes de firmar el contrato?
What should I do before signing the contract?
Primero, consulta a un abogado.
First, consult a lawyer.
✕Common Mistakes
Primero, consulta el abogado.
The personal ‘a’ is required before a specific person; omit it and the sentence sounds ungrammatical.
Primero, consulta a una abogado.
‘Abogado’ is masculine; the article must agree in gender.
Primero consulta a un abogado.
Missing the comma can make the sentence sound rushed; the pause after ‘Primero’ is natural in spoken Spanish.
↔Alternatives
En primer lugar, habla con un abogado.
In the first place, talk to a lawyer.
Antes de nada, busca asesoría legal.
Before anything else, seek legal advice.
Lo primero es consultar a un abogado.
The first thing is to consult a lawyer.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, the phrase ‘consultar a un abogado’ is the standard way to recommend legal advice. It carries a formal register, so it’s appropriate in professional settings, written instructions, or when speaking politely to someone you don’t know well. In informal conversation you might hear ‘hablar con un abogado’ instead.