noun
past
B1
Vergangenheit: feminine noun meaning 'the past' (time that has passed). Definite article die; plural Vergangenheiten (rare). Commonly used in the phrase 'in der Vergangenheit' (with in + dative). Abstract noun, normal declension (Gen. der Vergangenheit, Dat. der Vergangenheit). Also appears with 'aus' or 'in die Vergangenheit' in other contexts.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
In der Vergangenheit war alles anders.
In the past, everything was different.
Der Manager erinnerte an Fehler in der Vergangenheit, weil die neuen Regeln solche Fehler verhindern sollten.
The manager reminded (people) of mistakes in the past because the new rules were meant to prevent such mistakes.
Die Vergangenheit ist vorbei.
The past is over.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
Imagine a photo album labeled 'Vergangenheit' full of old pictures.
die Vergangenheit — think of 'die Zeit' (time) which is also feminine to remember the gender.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Used both as an abstract noun meaning the past and in compounds (e.g., 'in der jüngeren Vergangenheit').