first-person
UK[ˈfɜːst ˈpɜːs(ə)n]US[ˈfɜːrst ˈpɜːrs(ə)n]
adj
Describing a narrative or perspective in which the narrator is a participant in the events, using pronouns like "I" and "we".
n
A pronoun or verb form that refers to the speaker or a group including the speaker (e.g., I, we, me, us).
Morpheme Breakdown
first
person
first
person
Etymology
The compound "first-person" is a modern English formation combining the ordinal number "first," denoting primacy or the initial position in a sequence, with the noun "person," which evolved from the Latin persona, originally meaning a theatrical mask and later an individual's character or identity. In grammatical and narrative contexts, this combination logically creates a term that identifies the primary speaking individual—the "I" or "we"—in a statement or story. This analytical framework for describing point of view became standardized with the development of English grammar and literary criticism, precisely categorizing the perspective from which events are related.
Analysis
Structure: first + person
- first: From Old English fyrst, first, related to fore (before). Function: ordinal number, indicating position.
- person: From Latin persona (actor's mask, character, person). Function: noun, referring to an individual.
Examples
The novel is written in a compelling first-person narrative, making the protagonist's thoughts feel immediate.
In English, the pronouns "I" and "me" are in the first person.
Many video games use a first-person perspective to immerse the player directly in the action.