aufeinanderfolgende

Au feinanderfolgende is a German adjective meaning consecutive or successive, describing elements that follow one another in a strict order. It is used to characterize sequences, such as numbers, days, years, or events, where each element immediately follows the previous one without gaps.

Etymology and form: the word is a compound built from auf, einander and folgen (to follow). The phrase literally conveys the idea of following one another. In writing, aufeinanderfolgend is the base form, and aufeinanderfolgende is the attributive form that appears with definite articles or plural nouns (der aufeinanderfolgende Tag, die aufeinanderfolgenden Zahlen). The feminine and neuter forms, as well as different plural endings, follow standard German adjective declension rules.

Usage and examples: aufeinanderfolgende is common in mathematics, statistics, science, and everyday language to describe sequences. Examples include: der aufeinanderfolgende Tag, die aufeinanderfolgenden Jahre, die aufeinanderfolgenden Zahlen 1, 2, 3, 4. The phrase can also describe non-numeric sequences, such as aufeinanderfolgende Ereignisse in einem Zeitplan or in historical discussions of aufeinanderfolgende Perioden.

Relation to similar terms: while nacheinander also expresses succession, aufeinanderfolgende emphasizes a direct, orderly sequence of elements that follow one after another. The term is primarily an attributive adjective; for a predicate sense one would usually say Die Zahlenfolge ist aufeinanderfolgend.

See also: nacheinander, Folge, Sequenz.