This is the 90th most frequent German word.
erst
"Erst" means "only," "not until," or "just" in English, depending on context.
'Erst' is used here to indicate sequence, emphasizing that studying should happen before celebrating. It serves to structure the order of actions.
Erst studieren, dann feiern!
Study first, then celebrate!
Here, 'erst' underscores the preliminary nature of the situation, implying there is much more to come. It conveys an idea of 'just the beginning' or an early stage in a sequence or process.
Das ist erst der Anfang.
This is only the beginning.
In this sentence, 'erst' highlights that the action of arriving happened later than perhaps expected; it adds emphasis to the timing of the event. 'Erst' is used to indicate the idea of 'only just' or 'not earlier than' a specific time.