01
der Vorabend
eve
The evening or late afternoon of the day immediately before a specific holiday, event, or date.
example
Am Vorabend der Hochzeit waren alle sehr aufgeregt.
On the eve of the wedding, everyone was very excited.
der Vorabend
eve
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word composition
'Vorabend' is made up of the preposition 'vor' (before) and the noun 'Abend' (evening). So it literally describes the evening before a specific day or event.
EXAMPLE
Am Vorabend seines Geburtstags konnte er vor Aufregung nicht schlafen.
On the eve of his birthday, he couldn't sleep because he was so excited.
Sentence structure and usage
The word is almost always used with the preposition 'am': 'am Vorabend' (on the eve). The event it refers to often follows in the genitive or with 'von' (of).
EXAMPLE
Wir treffen uns am Vorabend der Konferenz zu einem gemeinsamen Abendessen.
We are meeting on the eve of the conference for a group dinner.
Context clue
You can recognize the figurative meaning by the fact that it refers to major, abstract, or historical events, not to specific calendar days. Typical contexts are history, politics, and culture.
EXAMPLE
Die Erfindung des Buchdrucks stand am Vorabend einer neuen Epoche.
The invention of the printing press stood on the eve of a new era.
Register and style
The figurative use of 'Vorabend' (eve) is typical of an elevated, often literary or journalistic style. It is rare in everyday language.
EXAMPLE
Die Gesellschaft spürte, dass sie am Vorabend großer Veränderungen stand.
Society sensed that it stood on the eve of great changes.
Compare with
Vorabend vs Abend
evening
'der Abend' and 'der Vorabend' can both refer to a time at the end of a day. 'der Abend' is general: it is the time of day when it gets dark. 'der Vorabend' is more specific and needs a reference to an event or date. It means the evening directly before it, for example before an exam, a holiday, or a trip. Learners may confuse the words because a Vorabend is also an evening. Without an important event, you say 'Abend'. When you mean the evening before something specific, you say 'Vorabend'.
Vorabend
Am Vorabend der Prüfung haben die Gäste im Hotel leise gegessen.
On the eve of the exam, the guests ate quietly in the hotel.
Abend
Der Abend ist ruhig, und der Fahrer ruht sich nach dem Training aus.
The evening is quiet, and the driver rests after training.
In real life
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