vanavond

Vanavond is a Dutch adverb meaning “this evening” or “tonight.” It marks events or actions that occur during the evening hours of the current day and is commonly used in spoken and written Dutch to indicate timing.

Etymology and form: The word is a fused compound of van (of, from) and avond (evening). It is written as a single word, unlike phrases that separate the elements, and it is distinct from related time words such as vanmiddag (this afternoon) and vannacht (the night/tonight).

Usage and nuance: Vanavond is typically used for activities that take place in the evening, often starting in the late afternoon or early evening and continuing into night. It is used in everyday conversation, schedules, event notices, and media references. In contrast, vanmiddag refers to the afternoon, and vannacht to the late night or overnight period. In many contexts, the exact boundary between vanavond and vannacht is determined by common usage and the speaker’s intention.

Regional and stylistic notes: In Dutch spoken in the Netherlands and Flanders, vanavond is the standard term for the evening period. For precise timing, it is common to pair vanavond with a clock time, e.g., vanavond om acht uur, to avoid ambiguity.

See also: vanmiddag, vannacht.