German word

vorher

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈfoːɐ̯ˌheːɐ̯/

Meaning

  • adverbbefore

Example

Ich habe vorher nie davon gehört.

I had never heard of it before.

Illustration for vorher (before)

More examples

Ich hatte schon vorher gewusst, dass du kommst.

I had already known beforehand that you were coming.

Core concept

An event on the earlier side of a marked point in time.

Common phrases

  • schon vorher

    already beforehand

  • kurz vorher

    shortly beforehand

Similar words

früher: In the more distant past, well before the present period.
zuvor: Previously, shortly before the event being discussed.
vorhin: Only a little while earlier than now.
davor: Before a particular event or point in time, in an earlier state or action.

Definition in German

Zeitlich zuvor; etwas liegt vor einem bestimmten Bezugspunkt in der Vergangenheit.

Word origin

Vorher combines vor, meaning "before" in temporal use, with her, an old adverb meaning "here" or "hither"; together they developed the sense "before that point".

Usage tips

  • Vorher is an adverb, while bevor introduces a subordinate clause.

Other meanings

  • beforehandadverb
  • earlieradverb

Opposites

Related words

  • vorhersehenforeseeverb
  • vorhergehendprecedingadjective

Word lists with this word