Colloquial noun emphasizing the very first moment or earliest stage of something. Often used in phrases like しょっぱなから (from the very start) or しょっぱなに (at the very beginning).
I stumbled right from the very beginning.
There was an important announcement at the very start of the meeting.
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 初っ端 is also used but less common.
Kanji spelling; the reading しょっぱな is a colloquial contraction of しょはな (初端).
Search-only kanji form; not a standard spelling.
Colloquial contraction of 初端 (しょはな), literally 'first edge/start'. The geminated っぱな adds emphasis and a casual tone.