das Heute, –
today
Der Tag, an dem man jetzt lebt oder spricht.
Definition & meaning
heute means “today”: on the current day, or during the present day.
It can also mean “nowadays” or “in the present era,” especially when contrasted with the past. When used as a noun, das Heute refers to the present or the world as it is today.
Grammar & word origin
heute is an invariable adverb of time. It is normally written in lowercase, except at the beginning of a sentence. When used as a noun, it is capitalized: das Heute.
Historically, the word comes from Old High German hiutu, a contraction meaning roughly “on this day,” formed from elements meaning “this” and “day.” It is not treated as a compound in modern German.
Synonyms & antonyms
- jetzt — “now.” It refers more specifically to the present moment, while heute refers to the whole current day.
- heutzutage — “nowadays.” It usually refers to the present era rather than one particular day.
- gegenwärtig — “currently” or “present.” This is more formal and often describes a current state.
Depending on the context, antonyms include:
- gestern — “yesterday.”
- morgen — “tomorrow.” The contrast is with a future day; morgen can also mean “morning,” depending on context.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Das Heute ist wichtiger als das Gestern.noun
Today is more important than yesterday.
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