German word

davor

Pronunciation

IPA/daˈfoːɐ̯/

Meaning

  • adverbbefore that

Example

Ich habe davor schon gegessen.

I had already eaten before that.

Illustration for davor (before that)

More examples

Sie war kurz davor zu gehen.

She was just about to leave.

Core concept

Something lies directly before a reference point, either physically or earlier in a sequence.

Common phrases

  • kurz davor sein

    be just about to ___

  • schon davor

    already before that

  • eine Stunde davor

    an hour before that

Similar words

vorher: Earlier in the sequence under discussion, as commonly used in conversation.
zuvor: Earlier than a stated event, with a formal and explanatory tone.
früher: In an earlier period of the past, often describing former habits.

Definition in German

Anzeigt, dass etwas räumlich vor einer genannten Sache liegt oder von einem Bezugspunkt zeitlich davor liegt, ohne selbst einen Kasus zu fordern.

Word origin

The element vor has both spatial and temporal senses in German, while da makes the relation refer back to something already identified.

Usage tips

  • Davor does not take a following case-marked noun; a noun phrase instead follows vor, as in vor dem Haus, while davor stands alone.

Other meanings

  • beforehandadverb
  • in front of itadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word