All three words mean first. So what is the difference between eahsht, s’eahsht, and seahsht?
Eahsht (adj)
Use with nouns
Eahsht is an adjective in Pennsylvania Deitsh. So it’s used to describe a noun that is first in order or time.
This means that it needs to go along with a noun in a sentence — usually right before the noun.
Examples
- Vass henn selli in di eahsht century gedu…? (as in the first century)
- Gukket da eahsht paragraph. (as in the first paragraph)
- Eahsht, Zvett, un Dritt Johannes. (as in first John)
- Vass finna ma in di eahshti fiah bichah? (as in the first 4 books. Notice -i is added because it goes with a plural noun.)
S’eahsht (adj)
Use with nouns
S’eahsht is really just eahsht when used with a neuter noun.
The word es (the) sometimes gets shortened to s’ or ‘s; especially near the start of a sentence. Even though the and first are two separate words, they are often pronounced so they almost sound like one word.
Examples
- S’eahsht moll es ich do voah… (as in the first time)
- Gukket’s eahsht piktah. (as in the first picture)
- Vass hott kaebbend in’s eahsht part funn di fasamling? (part is neuter)
In both examples above, moll and piktah are neuter nouns, so they would normally have ‘s or es in front of them.
Seahsht (adv)
Use with verbs
Seahsht is an adverb in Pennsylvania Deitsh. It works along with a verb. It can also describe placing or viewing something as first in priority or importance.
Examples
- Vi kann ebbah mitt nett feel zeit alsnoch iahra family seahsht halda kann?
- Bei seahsht abheicha zu anri zayld’s uns helfa fa nett kshvind bays vadda.
- Boviah seahsht da mayn idea greeya funn da subject.