früh
early
At the beginning of the day, shortly after sunrise or after getting up.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen morgen früh losfahren, um den Stau zu vermeiden.
We have to leave early tomorrow to avoid the traffic jam.
früh
early
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Meanings
früh
early
At the beginning of an era, stage of life, or season.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat schon früh gelernt, selbstständig zu sein.
She learned early on to be independent.
früh
early
Before the expected, usual, or agreed time.
EXAMPLE
Der Zug kam heute zehn Minuten zu früh an.
The train arrived ten minutes early today.
Usage tips
Adjective or adverb
'Früh' (early) can stand before a noun as an adjective and is then declined. It can also describe a verb as an adverb and then remains unchanged.
EXAMPLE
Der frühe Zug um sechs Uhr war schon voll.
The early train at six o'clock was already full.
The phrase 'heute früh'
The combination 'heute früh' (early today / this morning) is a very common time expression and means 'heute Morgen' (this morning). It is used to talk about events in the morning of the current day.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe heute früh schon eine E-Mail von dir bekommen.
I already got an email from you this morning.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'früher oder später' (sooner or later) means that something will inevitably happen at some point in the future. It expresses certainty.
EXAMPLE
Früher oder später kommt die Wahrheit immer ans Licht.
Sooner or later, the truth always comes to light.
Use with 'zu'
In combination with 'zu' (too), 'zu früh' (too early) expresses that something happens before the right or planned time. This often has a negative or undesirable meaning.
EXAMPLE
Es ist noch zu früh, um eine endgültige Entscheidung zu treffen.
It is still too early to make a final decision.
Compare with
früh vs morgens
in the mornings
Morgens places a regularly performed action in the morning. Früh, by contrast, evaluates the time as relatively early, for example in relation to the usual time. An action at six o'clock can therefore take place morgens and also be considered früh.
früh
Am Sonntag gehe ich schon früh um sechs Uhr laufen.
On Sunday, I go running early, at six o'clock.
morgens
An Arbeitstagen gehe ich morgens um sechs Uhr laufen.
On workdays, I go running at six in the morning.
In real life
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