die
Vorrunde
🏁 What Exactly is a Vorrunde?
The word die Vorrunde (feminine) refers to the first part of a competition, especially in sports (like a World Cup or a tennis tournament). In the Vorrunde, teams or individual players compete against each other to qualify for the next rounds (e.g., Achtelfinale - round of 16, Viertelfinale - quarter-finals, Halbfinale - semi-finals). It often serves to reduce the number of participants.
Sometimes, the Vorrunde is also called the Gruppenphase (group stage), especially when participants are divided into groups and play against each other within these groups.
There's only one article, die, for "Vorrunde", so there's no risk of confusion regarding the article. ⚠️ Be careful not to confuse it with "Vorfreude" (anticipation)!
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar of die Vorrunde in Detail
"Vorrunde" is a feminine noun. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Vorrunde |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Vorrunde |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Vorrunde |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Vorrunde |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Vorrunden |
| Genitive | der | Vorrunden |
| Dative | den | Vorrunden |
| Accusative | die | Vorrunden |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die deutsche Mannschaft hat die Vorrunde souverän überstanden. (The German team confidently got through the preliminary round.)
- Während der Vorrunde gab es viele spannende Spiele. (During the preliminary round, there were many exciting matches.)
- Nach der Vorrunde beginnt die K.o.-Phase des Turniers. (After the preliminary round, the knockout stage of the tournament begins.)
- Viele Favoriten scheiterten bereits in den Vorrunden vergangener Turniere. (Many favorites already failed in the preliminary rounds of past tournaments.)
🎯 When and How to Use "Vorrunde"?
"Vorrunde" is used almost exclusively in the context of competitions, tournaments, and championships, especially in sports.
- Typical Contexts: Football (WM - World Cup, EM - European Championship, Champions League), handball, basketball, ice hockey, but also in other tournament formats like debating competitions or e-sports.
- Common Verbs: die Vorrunde spielen (to play the preliminary round), die Vorrunde überstehen (to survive/get through the preliminary round), in der Vorrunde ausscheiden (to be eliminated in the preliminary round), sich für die Vorrunde qualifizieren (to qualify for the preliminary round).
- Distinction: The Vorrunde is the first main part of the tournament after any qualification rounds. It contrasts with the Hauptrunde (main round), Zwischenrunde (intermediate round), or directly with the K.o.-Phase (knockout stage - Achtelfinale, Viertelfinale, etc.) and the Finale (final) or Endrunde (final round).
💡 Mnemonics for Vorrunde
Article Mnemonic: Think of "Die Mannschaft" (the team - feminine) playing "die Runde" (the round - feminine). Many feminine nouns end in -e, like Vorrunde.
Meaning Mnemonic: "Vor-" means "before" or "pre-". The Vorrunde is the round that comes before the deciding rounds (like the final). It's the *pre*liminary round.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Gruppenphase: (Group stage) Often used synonymously when played in groups.
- Qualifikationsrunde: (Qualification round) Can sometimes be similar, but often refers to an even earlier phase *before* the actual Vorrunde.
- Erste Runde: (First round) A more general term.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Endrunde: (Final round / Finals) The last stage of a tournament.
- Finale: (Final match) The very last game.
- K.o.-Runde / K.o.-Phase: (Knockout round/stage) Rounds where the loser is immediately eliminated (comes after the Vorrunde).
- Hauptrunde / Zwischenrunde: (Main round / Intermediate round) Phases between the preliminary and final rounds.
🚨 Caution: Don't confuse with Vorlesung (lecture) or Vorbereitung (preparation).
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat die Schnecke die Vorrunde im Rennen verpasst?
(Why did the snail miss the preliminary round in the race?)
Sie ist auf der Schleimspur ausgerutscht!
(It slipped on its slime trail!)
📜 Poem about the Vorrunde
Die Pfeife klingt, das Spiel beginnt, (The whistle blows, the game begins,)
Die Vorrunde, schnell wie der Wind. (The preliminary round, swift as the wind.)
Teams kämpfen hart um jeden Punkt, (Teams fight hard for every point,)
Wer weiterzieht, wer bleibt gesund? (Who advances, who stays unwounded/healthy?)
Die Spannung steigt, die Fans sind da, (The tension rises, the fans are there,)
Nur wer besteht, ruft laut „Hurra!“ (Only those who pass shout loud "Hooray!")
Der erste Schritt zum großen Ziel, (The first step towards the big goal,)
Die Vorrunde ist kein Kinderspiel. (The preliminary round is no child's play.)
❓ Riddle
Ich bin der Anfang, nicht das End’,
Im Turnierplan man mich kennt.
Hier wird gesiebt, wer weiter darf,
Wer scheitert, ist am Ende scharf
Enttäuscht. Ich bin im Sport zu Haus,
Mal Gruppen, mal ein direktes „Aus“.
Was bin ich?
(I am the beginning, not the end,
On the tournament schedule, I am known.
Here it's decided who may proceed,
Who fails, is sharply disappointed in the end.
I am at home in sports,
Sometimes groups, sometimes a direct "out".
What am I?)
Solution: die Vorrunde (the preliminary round)
ℹ️ Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Vorrunde" is composed of:
- Vor-: Prefix meaning "before," "first," or "preliminary."
- Runde: Meaning "round" in the sense of a stage or leg in a competition or game.
Together, it signifies the round that takes place before the main or final rounds.
Cultural Significance: Especially during major international sporting events like the FIFA World Cup (Fußball-WM) or European Championship (EM), successfully navigating the Vorrunde is a significant national event for many countries, often accompanied by great emotion.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Vorrunde?
The German word 'Vorrunde' is feminine: die Vorrunde. The plural is die Vorrunden.