once / someday
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once
Formerly, a long time ago. Used to refer to a past state or an event in the past.
Wo heute hohe Bürogebäude stehen, war einst ein lebendiges Künstlerviertel.
Where tall office buildings stand today, there was once a lively artists' district.
someday
At some point in the future; one day. This usage is rarer and more literary or elevated.
Er träumte davon, dass seine Erfindung einst die Welt verändern würde.
He dreamed that his invention would someday change the world.
'Einst' (once) is mainly used in written language, in stories, or in a formal, slightly poetic style to talk about the past. It often sounds like 'Once upon a time ...'.
Dieses Schloss war einst die Residenz eines mächtigen Königs.
This castle was once the residence of a powerful king.
As an adverb, 'einst' (once / someday) can stand in different positions in the sentence. If it stands at the beginning of the sentence (position 1), the verb follows directly after it in position 2.
Einst lebte hier ein berühmter Dichter.
Once, a famous poet lived here.
The meaning of 'einst' (once / someday) depends on the tense of the verb. If the verb is in the past tense (e.g. preterite), it means 'formerly'. If it is in the future tense or subjunctive, it can mean 'one day in the future', but this is very rare and literary.
Hier stand einst eine alte Mühle am Fluss.
An old mill once stood here by the river.
once
Einmal and einst can refer to a future opportunity or an unspecified day in the future. Einmal sounds neutral, whereas einst sounds more elevated or literary and is less common in this meaning. In everyday language, einmal is usually appropriate; in literary texts, einst can be suitable.
Im Roman verspricht Mira, sie werde einst in diese Stadt zurückkehren.
In the novel, Mira promises that she will one day return to this city.
Mira sagte zu ihrer Freundin, sie werde einmal in diese Stadt zurückkehren.
Mira told her friend that she would return to this city one day.
