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adverb

damals

then · back then · at that time

Dieses Wort beschreibt eine Zeit, die in der Vergangenheit liegt.

Definition & meaning

The German adverb "damals" refers to a specific point or period in the past. It is used to describe when something happened or what the situation was like at that time.

  1. At that time / back then: It is used to refer to a specific moment or a period in history, often implying a contrast with the present. For example: "Damals war alles anders" (Back then, everything was different).
  2. In those days: Used to denote a past era or a phase in someone's life. For example: "Damals, als ich noch in Berlin wohnte..." (In those days, when I still lived in Berlin...).

Grammar & Word origin

"Damals" is an adverb of time and does not change its form (it is indeclinable). It cannot be used as an adjective.

The word is a compound of:

  • da: meaning "there" or "then."
  • mals: a form derived from "Mal" (time/instance).

It essentially functions as a temporal counterpart to "heute" (today) or "jetzt" (now), focusing strictly on a defined past.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • einst (poetic or formal, meaning "once" or "in former times")
  • zu jener Zeit (at that time)
  • früher (earlier/formerly)
  • seinerzeit (at that time/in its day)

Antonyms:

  • heute (today)
  • jetzt (now)
  • heutzutage (nowadays)

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Examples

Damals wusste man wenig über das Internet.adverb

Back then, people knew little about the Internet.

Damals waren die Sommer sehr warm.adverb

Back then, the summers were very warm.

Damals lebte er in einer kleinen Stadt.adverb

Back then he lived in a small town.

Damals waren die Sommer länger.adverb

Back then the summers were longer.

Damals besuchten wir oft das Museum.adverb

Back then, we often visited the museum

Damals arbeitete ich noch in einer kleinen Bäckerei.adverb

At that time I was still working in a small bakery.

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