Vorahnung

Vorahnung is a German noun meaning a forewarning or premonition: a vague, often emotional sense that something not yet specific is going to happen. In everyday language it denotes a feeling of impending events rather than concrete knowledge. The term is used for both a general sense of anticipation and a mood of unease about the near future, sometimes described as a gut feeling or intuition.

Etymology and grammar: Vorahnung is formed from the prefix vor- “before” and Ahnung “hunch, notion, intuition.” It is feminine: die Vorahhnung, plural die Vorahnungen. The word conveys a sense of something perceived before it occurs, without detailed information.

Psychological and cultural context: In psychology and cognitive science, Vorahnung can be related to intuition, affective forecasting, or memory biases where prior experiences inform a felt expectation. It is not considered a reliable or verifiable predictor of events. In literature and media, Vorahnung is a common motif used to create suspense or to signal impending danger or change. Works in German-speaking contexts sometimes use the term in titles or dialogue to evoke mood and thematic foreshadowing.

Translations and related terms: In English, Vorahnung is commonly translated as “premonition” or “foreboding.” Related German terms include Ahnung (hunch, idea), Intuition (intuition), and Voraussicht (foresight).

See also: Premonition, Foreboding, Intuition, Foreseeable events.