daardoor

Daardoor is a Dutch adverb meaning “thereby” or “as a result.” It is used to connect a preceding situation to a subsequent consequence, signaling a causal relationship without stating the cause in the second clause. The word is formed from daar (there/that) and door (through), reflecting its historical sense of “through that [circumstance].”

In usage, daardoor typically appears between two main clauses, often separated by a semicolon or comma: Het weer was slecht; daardoor bleven we thuis. It can also begin a sentence to emphasize the consequence: Daardoor bleef hij thuis. The antecedent in the first clause should make the cause of the second clear.

Nuance and comparison with related words: Unlike daarom (therefore) or dus (so), waardoor emphasizes the result that follows from a prior condition rather than a direct inferential conclusion. Therefore is more about a logical conclusion drawn from information, while hierdoor/daardoor link a result to a specific preceding situation. In everyday language, daardoor is common and widely understood, including in formal writing such as journalism and academic or official texts.

Examples:

- Het gebouw was onveilig; daardoor werd de vluchtweg afgesloten.

- De trein had vertraging, daardoor bereikte hij zijn afspraak te laat.

See also: daar, omdat, daarom, dus.

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