German Conversation · Level 86
59 words
German word
vornherein
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈfɔʁnhɛˌʁaɪ̯n/
Meaning
- adverbfrom the start
Example
Das war von vornherein klar.
That was clear from the start.
More examples
Das Projekt war von vornherein zum Scheitern verurteilt.
The project was doomed to fail from the outset.
Core concept
A plan with its opening decision already stamped before the first step.
Common phrases
von vornherein ausgeschlossen
excluded from the outset
von vornherein klar
clear from the outset
Similar words
von Anfang an: Existing from the beginning and continuing throughout.
anfangs: True at first, but only temporarily.
zunächst: Relevant initially, with a later change or step possible.
von Haus aus: Part of someone's nature or original background.
Definition in German
vornherein drückt aus, dass etwas von Anfang an so gedacht oder festgelegt ist.
Word origin
The phrase von vornherein joins von vorn ('from the front') with herein ('inward'), extending spatial movement toward the front into a temporal sense of an outset.
Usage tips
- In standard usage, vornherein usually occurs in the fixed phrase von vornherein, and the compound stays lowercase.
Opposites
- hinterherafterwardadverb