Vorübergehende

Vorübergehende is a German term with two main uses: as an adjective meaning temporary or transitory, and as a noun referring to a person who is temporarily present in a place. The form vorübergehend is the corresponding adverbial form, used to describe temporariness without naming a person. Etymologically, the word combines vorübergehen (to pass by) with the participial suffix -ende, conveying the sense of something that is not permanent.

As an adjective, vorübergehende describes temporary states, measures, or arrangements. It is commonly used with a noun to indicate impermanence, for example: eine vorübergehende Lösung (a temporary solution), vorübergehende Unterbringung (temporary accommodation), or vorübergehende Maßnahmen (temporary measures). In everyday language, it contrasts with dauernd or dauerhaft, which denote permanence. The adverb form vorübergehend is often preferred when no noun is being described, as in "Die Regelung ist vorübergehend."

As a noun, Vorübergehende (masculine der Vorübergehende, feminine die Vorübergehende; plural Die Vorübergehenden) denotes a person who is temporarily present in a location. This usage appears in contexts such as accommodation, hospitality, or migration, where a person’s stay is understood to be non-permanent. For example: In der Unterkunft wohnen auch Vorübergehende, bis eine dauerhafte Lösung gefunden wird. Die Vorübergehenden wurden über die geltenden Regeln informiert. The term emphasizes temporality rather than identity or permanency.

See also: vorübergehend, temporär, temporäre Aufenthaltsdauer. In formal contexts, more precise terms may be used to describe temporary status or residency, depending on legal or institutional definitions.