förut

Förut is a Swedish adverb meaning "previously" or "beforehand." It refers to a time earlier than the moment of reference, such as the present moment or another point in time already mentioned. In contemporary Swedish it is common in both speech and writing and is often preferred for a neutral, everyday tone. Examples: Jag har varit där förut. Förut tyckte jag att det var svårt, men nu går det bättre.

Compared with förr, which is more archaic or literary, förut tends to sound more colloquial and widely used in ordinary language. The two words can sometimes be interchangeable, but förr often evokes a more nostalgic or formal mood. När man vill markera en kontrast mellan då och nu kan båda orden användas, men förut känns vanligare i vardagligt tal.

Etymology and cognates: Förut is attested in Old Swedish and has close cognates in other Scandinavian languages, such as Norwegian forut and Danish forud, all arising from a common Germanic root meaning "beforehand" or "earlier." The form developed as an adverb through historical language change within the Scandinavian family.

Usage notes: Förut can appear before or after the finite verb, depending on emphasis. In a present-perfect construction Swedish often places the element after the verb: Jag har varit där förut. In narrative or argumentative contexts it commonly contrasts with the present or a future moment: Förut var det annorlunda. Related terms include tidigare and, in more archaic or literary contexts, förr.