antequam
[ˈan.tɛ.kʷãː]
The English word "ere" is translated into Latin as antequam.
Antequam is a conjunction meaning "before" or "sooner than", and it introduces a whole clause.
Meaning: before, sooner than (prep)
Which one should you use?
Before a single noun, use the preposition ante instead, as in ante lucem (before dawn).
Did you know?
- Romans used ante in the term ante-meridiem, meaning 'before midday', which survived into English as the abbreviation 'AM' used for every clock in the English-speaking world.
- The English word 'ante' in card games, meaning the stake put up 'before' the hand begins, is a direct borrowing from the Latin preposition.
- Romans used the word ante to mark the start of a calendar period, such as 'ante diem', meaning 'before the day'. They counted days backward from certain markers rather than forward as we do now.
Examples in context
- Antequam venisti, dormiebam.Before you came, I was sleeping.
- Antequam lux oritur, surgemus.Before the light rises, we will rise.
Example conversation
A conversation between friends about a journey before sunrise.
- LuciaAntequam sol oritur, iter faciamus?Shall we start the journey before the sun rises?
- QuintusIta, antequam calor incipit, vadamus.Yes, let us go before the heat begins.
- LuciaEstne iter longum, Quinte?Is the journey long, Quintus?
- QuintusIta, sed antequam nox veniat, adveniemus.Yes, but before night comes, we will arrive.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry antequam, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
