der
Vortag
🗓️ What does „der Vortag“ mean?
Der Vortag means the day immediately preceding a specific other day. So, it's the "day before" or the "previous day".
Unlike „gestern“ (yesterday), which always refers to the day before today, „der Vortag“ can refer to the day before any reference day (e.g., the day before the exam, the day before departure).
Example: If today is Wednesday, Tuesday was der Vortag. If a trip starts on Friday, Thursday is der Vortag of the departure.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ag → always masculine.
Weekdays, months, seasons → almost always masculine.
Caution: see exceptions
🔍 Grammar in Detail: Der Vortag
„Vortag“ is a masculine noun. The article is der.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Vortag |
| Accusative | den | Vortag |
| Dative | dem | Vortag(e) |
| Genitive | des | Vortag(e)s |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Vortage |
| Accusative | die | Vortage |
| Dative | den | Vortagen |
| Genitive | der | Vortage |
📝 Example Sentences
- Am Vortag der Prüfung war er sehr nervös. (He was very nervous on the day before the exam.)
- Wir haben die Details bereits am Vortag besprochen. (We already discussed the details the day before.)
- Die Ereignisse des Vortages waren entscheidend. (The events of the previous day were crucial.)
- Sie erinnerte sich gut an den Vortag ihrer Hochzeit. (She remembered the day before her wedding well.)
💡 How to use „Vortag“ correctly
„Der Vortag“ is mostly used to refer to the day before a specific event or date that has already been mentioned or is clear from the context.
- Compared to „gestern“ (yesterday): „Gestern“ always refers to the day before today. „Vortag“ is more flexible and can refer to the day before any given day. Example: „Ich kam am Montag an. Am Vortag (also Sonntag) hatte ich noch alles gepackt.“ (I arrived on Monday. On the previous day (i.e., Sunday), I had packed everything.) Using „gestern“ here would be incorrect.
- Typical phrases: It's very commonly used with „am“: „am Vortag“ (on the previous day). The genitive case is also common: „die Planung des Vortages“ (the planning of the previous day).
- Context: You often find „Vortag“ in reports, narratives, plans, or news where a sequence of events is described. In everyday conversation about the day before today, „gestern“ is more common and sounds more natural.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article mnemonic: Think of „der Tag“ (the day). „Vortag“ is just a specific type of day, so it keeps the masculine article der.
Meaning mnemonic: „Vor“ means "before". „Tag“ means "day". So: The day vor (before) another day.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Vortag
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
⚠️ Caution: „Gestern“ (yesterday) is not a general synonym for „Vortag“ because it only ever refers to the day before today.
😄 A Little Joke
DE: Warum sind Archäologen so schlecht im Planen für morgen?
Weil sie immer nur über den Vortag nachdenken! 😉
EN: Why are archaeologists so bad at planning for tomorrow?
Because they always think only about the previous day (der Vortag)! 😉
📜 Poem about the Word
DE:
Der Tag davor, so wird’s genannt,
Ist als der Vortag wohlbekannt.
Was gestern war, ist heut vorbei,
Doch oft denkt man zurück dabei.
Am Vortag noch, da war es klar,
Was heut schon wieder anders war.
EN:
The day before, so it is named,
Is as der Vortag well-acclaimed.
What yesterday was, is past today,
But often thoughts drift back that way.
On the Vortag still, it was clear,
What today is already different here.
🧩 Little Riddle
DE:
Ich bin immer der Tag, bevor etwas geschah,
nicht heute, nicht morgen, doch zeitlich ganz nah.
Bin ich der Tag vor gestern? Nur wenn heute der Bezug.
Wie heiße ich, sag schnell, das ist nicht genug!
EN:
I am always the day before something happened,
Not today, not tomorrow, yet temporally quite near.
Am I the day before yesterday? Only if today is the reference clear.
What's my name, tell me quick, that's not enough here!
Lösung / Answer: Der Vortag
ℹ️ Other Information
Word Composition
The word „Vortag“ is a compound noun, composed of:
- vor-: A preposition/prefix, here with a temporal meaning ("before").
- Tag: The noun „der Tag“ (the day).
Together, this creates the meaning "the day before".
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Vortag?
The German word "Vortag" is masculine. The correct article is der. It means "the day before" a specific reference day. Example: Am Vortag der Reise packte er seine Koffer. (On the day before the trip, he packed his bags.)