We use first-ever to say that something has never happened before in all of history — not just the first time this year, or the first time for this person, but the first time at all. It goes in front of a noun: 'the first-ever World Cup', 'her first-ever concert', 'the country's first-ever woman president'.

We use first-ever to say我們用 first-ever 來說 that something has never happened before in all of history某件事在整個歷史上從來沒發生過—— not just the first time this year不只是今年的第一次，or the first time for this person也不只是這個人的第一次，but the first time at all而是有史以來的第一次。It goes in front of a noun它放在名詞前面：'the first-ever World Cup''the first-ever World Cup'（史上第一屆世界盃）、'her first-ever concert''her first-ever concert'（她第一次開演唱會）、'the country's first-ever woman president''the country's first-ever woman president'（這個國家史上第一位女總統）。

So why not just say 'first'? Because 'first' can be small. 'My first coffee today' only means the first one today; there were coffees yesterday. When you add 'ever', you close the door on all other times.

So why not just say那為什麼不直接說 'first''first' 就好？Because因為 'first''first' can be small可能很小。'My first coffee today''My first coffee today'（我今天的第一杯咖啡） only means the first one today只是指今天的第一杯；there were coffees yesterday昨天也喝過咖啡。When you add 'ever'當你加上 'ever'，you close the door on all other times就等於把其他所有時間都排除掉。

That is why people use it when they want you to feel that something is a big moment — news writers love it, and so do adverts. And here is the 'though actually': people stretch it. A shop will say 'our first-ever sale' when they mean the first sale since the shop opened last year, which is not really history. That is not wrong exactly, but you can hear that it is being used to make something sound bigger than it is.

That is why people use it這就是為什麼人們想讓你覺得某件事是個大事件時 when they want you to feel that something is a big moment會用這個詞—— news writers love it新聞寫手很愛用，and so do adverts廣告也是。And here is the 'though actually'不過這裡有個『不過其實』：people stretch it人們會濫用這個詞。A shop will say一家店可能會說 'our first-ever sale''our first-ever sale'（史上第一次特賣） when they mean但意思其實是 the first sale since the shop opened last year店去年開幕以來的第一次特賣，which is not really history這根本稱不上什麼歷史。That is not wrong exactly這不算真的錯，but you can hear that但你聽得出來 it is being used to make something sound bigger than it is這是用來讓一件事聽起來比實際上更大。

Note also that 'first-ever' almost always sits before a noun. You would not say 'This is first-ever.' You say 'This is the first-ever one', or you drop the word and say 'This has never happened before.' The hyphen is normal but not sacred; you will see 'first ever' written open, especially in British newspapers, and nobody minds.

Note also另外要注意 that 'first-ever' almost always sits before a noun'first-ever' 幾乎總是放在名詞前面。You would not say你不會說 'This is first-ever.''This is first-ever.' You say你會說 'This is the first-ever one''This is the first-ever one'，or you drop the word and say或乾脆不用這個詞，說 'This has never happened before.''This has never happened before.' The hyphen is normal but not sacred連字號很常見，但不是非加不可；you will see 'first ever' written open你也會看到 'first ever' 分開寫，especially in British newspapers尤其在英國報紙上，and nobody minds沒有人會介意。