summons
Loading your saved state.
summons
An official written request to appear at a specific time and place, usually before an authority such as the police or a court.
Der Zeuge erhielt eine Vorladung, um vor Gericht auszusagen.
The witness received a summons to testify in court.
'Die Vorladung' (the summons) is a noun derived from the separable verb 'vorladen' (to summon). The verb means to request someone to appear 'vor' (before) an official body in order to be 'geladen' (called/questioned).
Er wurde als Zeuge bei der Polizei vorgeladen.
He was summoned to the police as a witness.
Certain verbs are used in connection with 'Vorladung' (summons): you 'bekommt' or 'erhält' eine Vorladung (get or receive a summons). An authority 'stellt eine Vorladung aus' (issues a summons). You can 'Folge leisten' einer Vorladung (comply with a summons, i.e. go there).
Er hat eine Vorladung vom Gericht erhalten und muss dort erscheinen.
He received a summons from the court and has to appear there.
To indicate the purpose of the summons, the preposition 'zu' with the dative is used. To indicate the place, you say 'Vorladung vor' with the accusative for a court, or 'zur' with the dative for an authority.
Sie erhielt eine Vorladung zur Zeugenaussage.
She received a summons to give witness testimony.
invitation
'die Einladung' and 'die Vorladung' are both written or spoken requests to come somewhere. The difference lies in the setting and the tone. An 'Einladung' is usually friendly and voluntary, for example to a celebration, a meal, or a visit. A 'Vorladung' is official and usually comes from an authority, the police, or a court. It means that you are supposed to appear at a specific appointment. The words can be confused because both say: please come to a place. In everyday life with friends, you say 'Einladung'; with authorities, it is more likely to be 'Vorladung'.
Wegen des Unfalls erhielt der Zeuge eine Vorladung zur Polizei.
Because of the accident, the witness received a summons to appear at the police station.
Zur Hochzeit ihrer Schwester hat Maria eine schöne Einladung bekommen.
Maria received a beautiful invitation to her sister's wedding.