German word

früher

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈfʁyːɐ/

Meaning

  • adverbpreviously

Example

Ich habe früher in Berlin gewohnt.

I used to live in Berlin.

Illustration for früher (previously)

More examples

Meine Großeltern erzählten oft von früher.

My grandparents often talked about the past.

Core concept

A faded stretch of a timeline lies behind today's point, covering an earlier period or former routine.

Common phrases

  • wie früher

    as before

  • früher oder später

    sooner or later

Similar words

damals: Back then, referring to a specific past time or its circumstances.
vorher: Earlier than a specified event or time.

Definition in German

Komparativ von 'früh', als Adverb gebraucht, um auf eine frühere Zeit oder frühere Gewohnheiten hinzuweisen.

Word origin

Früher is the adverbial comparative of früh, from a Germanic adjective meaning 'early', and its sense extended from 'earlier' to 'formerly'.

Usage tips

  • Früher often refers to an earlier period or past habit, whereas vorher usually marks what happened before a specific event or time.

Other meanings

  • onceadverb
  • in the pastadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word