die
Vorwoche
📅 What exactly is die Vorwoche?
The German word die Vorwoche refers to the calendar week immediately preceding the current week. So, it's the week 'before' (vor- = before). The term is often used to refer to events, data, or comparisons that took place during that specific period.
Example: If today is Wednesday in calendar week 25, then die Vorwoche is calendar week 24.
Since Woche (week) is feminine (die Woche), Vorwoche is also feminine: die Vorwoche.
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 in Detail: Declension of die Vorwoche
The noun 'Vorwoche' is feminine. Here are the declension tables:
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Vorwoche | eine Vorwoche |
| Genitive | der Vorwoche | einer Vorwoche |
| Dative | der Vorwoche | einer Vorwoche |
| Accusative | die Vorwoche | eine Vorwoche |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Vorwochen | - Vorwochen |
| Genitive | der Vorwochen | - Vorwochen |
| Dative | den Vorwochen | - Vorwochen |
| Accusative | die Vorwochen | - Vorwochen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Der Bericht für die Vorwoche ist fertig.
(The report for the previous week is ready.) - Im Vergleich zur Vorwoche sind die Verkaufszahlen gestiegen.
(Compared to the previous week, sales figures have increased.) - Wir haben uns in der Vorwoche getroffen.
(We met last week / the week before.) - Was ist in den Vorwochen passiert?
(What happened in the previous weeks?)
💡 Using 'die Vorwoche' Correctly
The term die Vorwoche is very commonly used in everyday life and professional settings in German:
- Reports & Analyses: Especially in economic or statistical contexts to present data from the past week (e.g., Umsatz der Vorwoche - previous week's revenue).
- Scheduling: To refer to past events or appointments (e.g., "Das Meeting fand in der Vorwoche statt." - "The meeting took place last week.").
- News & Reviews: In summaries of events (e.g., "Die wichtigsten Ereignisse der Vorwoche" - "The main events of the previous week").
Distinction from 'letzte Woche': While die Vorwoche specifically means the week before the current one, letzte Woche (last week) can sometimes be slightly ambiguous. However, in spoken German, they are often used interchangeably. Die Vorwoche can sound a bit more formal or precise, especially in writing or reports.
⚠️ Be careful: Don't confuse it with vorgestern (the day before yesterday) or Vorjahr (the previous year).
🧠 Mnemonics for Vorwoche
Article Mnemonic: Woche (week) is feminine (die Woche). Therefore, the week *before* it, die Vorwoche, is also feminine. Think: 'Die week before'.
Meaning Mnemonic: Vor- means 'before' or 'previous'. So, the Vorwoche is the week before the current one.
↔️ Similar & Opposite: Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning)
Antonyms (opposite meaning)
- diese Woche / laufende Woche: This week / the current week.
- nächste Woche / kommende Woche: Next week / the coming week.
⚠️ Similar Terms (Careful!)
😂 A Little Time Joke
Warum hat die Uhr letzte Woche gekündigt?
Sie hatte einfach keine Zeit mehr für den Job!
--- English Translation ---
Why did the clock quit last week?
It just didn't have time for the job anymore!
📜 Poem about the Previous Week
Die Vorwoche, sie ist vorbei,
Mit Arbeit, Freude, Allerlei.
Was gestern war, liegt nun zurück,
Ein kurzer, schneller Augenblick.
Die neue Woche steht bereit,
Für neue Taten, neue Zeit.
--- English Translation ---
The previous week, it is gone,
With work, and joy, and so on.
What yesterday was, now lies behind,
A brief, a fleeting moment's kind.
The new week's waiting, standing near,
For newer deeds, and time held dear.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich liege sieben Tage hinter dir,
bevor die aktuelle Woche war hier.
Man schaut auf mich oft im Bericht zurück,
Was bin ich für ein Zeit-Stück?
Lösung/Solution: die Vorwoche
--- English Translation ---
I lie seven days behind you true,
Before the current week came through.
In reports, they often look back at my track,
What piece of time am I, looking back?
Solution: the previous week (die Vorwoche)
🧩 Word Components
The word Vorwoche is a compound noun (Kompositum):
- Vor-: A preposition or prefix meaning 'before' or 'previous'.
- Woche: The familiar time unit of seven days (week).
Together, they form the meaning: the week before.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Vorwoche?
The correct article for the word "Vorwoche" is always die. It is a feminine noun (die Vorwoche, der Vorwoche, ...).