voordat

Voordat is a Dutch subordinating conjunction meaning "before." It introduces a subordinate clause that states an action or circumstance that occurs prior to the action described in the main clause.

Etymology and form: Voordat derives from voor (before) and dat (that). Historically it existed as two words, voor dat, and over time the form was fused into a single word in modern Dutch. In formal or older texts, the separate form may still be encountered, but nowadays de facto standard is voordat.

Grammar and usage: In sentences with voordat, the subordinate clause ends with the finite verb, and the main clause comes after. This word-order pattern is characteristic of Dutch subordinate clauses, where the verb-final structure appears within the voordat clause. Alvorens is a more formal synonym, while vooraf is an adverb meaning beforehand and can be used in related but slightly different constructions.

Examples: "Voordat ik naar bed ga, lees ik nog een hoofdstuk." "Voordat hij vertrok, zwaaide hij afscheid." These examples show how the clause introduced by voordat precedes the main action and how the verb placement at the end of the subordinate clause is used.

Variants and related terms: Alvorens is a formal alternative meaning "before." Vooraf can function as an adverb meaning beforehand, used to indicate sequencing rather than to introduce a subordinate clause. In contrast to voordat, these forms may appear in different syntactic roles or more formal styles.

See also: alvorens, voor, voordat (meaning “before”).