first-person
UK: ˌfɜːst ˈpɜːsn̩ | US: ˌfɜːrst ˈpɜːrsn̩
adj. relating to a grammatical form (e.g., "I," "we") that refers to the speaker or writer
adj. describing a narrative or game perspective where the protagonist is the viewer/player ("first-person POV")
n. a pronoun or verb form in the first person (e.g., "I run")
The compound "first-person" merges "first" (Old English fyrst, from Proto-Germanic furistaz, meaning "foremost") with "person" (Latin persona, originally "theatrical mask," later "human individual"). The term evolved in grammar to distinguish speaker-referential pronouns ("I/we") from second- and third-person forms. In modern usage, it expanded to media (e.g., "first-person shooter") by analogy to the grammatical concept—the viewer experiences events as the "foremost" participant.
In English, "I" and "we" are first-person pronouns.
The novel uses a first-person narrative to create intimacy.
Many video games offer a first-person perspective for immersion.
Avoid first-person language in formal academic writing.
She prefers first-person accounts in documentaries for authenticity.