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Vocabulary
daraufhin

B1 adverb #4,000 most common 11 min read

daraufhin

Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips daraufhin in 30 Seconds

Explanation daraufhin in your Level:

At the A1 level, you usually learn simple words like 'dann' (then) or 'danach' (after that) to talk about things happening one after another. 'Daraufhin' is a bit more advanced, but you can think of it as a special way of saying 'and then, because of that.' For example, if you say 'I gave my friend a gift. Then he was happy,' you could use 'daraufhin' to show that the gift is the reason he is happy. At this level, don't worry too much about using it yourself yet, but try to recognize it when you hear it in stories. It's like a signal that says: 'Something happened, and here is what happened next!' Just remember that in German, if you start a sentence with 'Daraufhin,' the very next word must be the action (the verb).

At the A2 level, you are starting to connect your sentences more smoothly. Instead of just saying 'and... and... and...', you use words like 'deshalb' or 'danach.' 'Daraufhin' is great for A2 students who want to tell better stories. It means 'as a result of what I just said.' For example, 'The teacher asked a question. Thereupon (daraufhin) I raised my hand.' It sounds much more professional than just 'then.' One important thing to practice is the word order. If you say 'Daraufhin...', the verb comes next, then the person. 'Daraufhin lachte sie' (Thereupon laughed she). This is a key part of German grammar called 'Inversion,' and 'daraufhin' is a perfect word to practice it with.

As a B1 learner, 'daraufhin' should become a regular part of your vocabulary. It is a 'pronominal adverb' (da + auf + hin). It is extremely useful for the 'Writing' and 'Speaking' parts of the B1 exam, especially when you have to describe a sequence of events or a problem and its solution. It helps you avoid repeating the same subject over and over. Instead of saying 'The company had problems. The company closed,' you can say 'The company had problems. Thereupon (daraufhin) it closed.' It shows the examiner that you understand how to create logical flow in German. You should also be aware that it's often used in news reports and formal letters, so being able to use it correctly will help you sound much more like a native speaker.

At the B2 level, you should be able to distinguish between 'daraufhin,' 'folglich,' and 'infolgedessen.' While they all show a result, 'daraufhin' has a stronger temporal (time-based) element. It implies that the reaction followed the cause quite quickly. At B2, you should also be comfortable placing 'daraufhin' in different parts of the sentence, not just at the beginning. You might say 'Die Regierung hat die Steuern erhöht; viele Bürger gingen daraufhin auf die Straße.' (The government raised taxes; many citizens thereupon took to the streets). This flexibility allows you to vary your sentence rhythm and place emphasis where you want it. It is also a key word for summarizing texts or reporting on debates.

For C1 learners, 'daraufhin' is a tool for stylistic precision. You use it to create a narrative 'chain' in complex reports or academic essays. At this level, you should notice how 'daraufhin' is used in literature to create immediate reactions. It can also be used in legal contexts to describe a 'subsequent action' that is legally bound to a previous one. You should also explore the nuance between 'daraufhin' and 'woraufhin.' While 'daraufhin' starts a new main clause, 'woraufhin' can introduce a relative-like subordinate clause (e.g., 'Er schrie ihn an, woraufhin dieser das Zimmer verließ'). Understanding these subtle grammatical differences is what separates C1 speakers from lower levels. It allows for highly sophisticated and nuanced storytelling.

At the C2 level, you use 'daraufhin' with total mastery of its rhetorical impact. You recognize its role in historical narratives, where it links the 'cause and effect' of grand events. You can use it to maintain a formal, objective distance in your writing while still clearly indicating the logical progression of an argument. C2 speakers also understand the etymological roots—how the 'hin' suggests a direction of thought. You might use it in a philosophical or highly technical discussion to track the development of an idea or the result of a specific variable change in a scientific process. At this level, 'daraufhin' is not just a connector; it's a way of structuring reality into a coherent, logical sequence of events.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

daraufhin in 30 Seconds

An adverb meaning 'thereupon' or 'immediately after that'.
Used to show a direct reaction to a previous event.
Very common in formal German, news, and reports.
Triggers inversion (Verb in position 2) when starting a sentence.

The German adverb daraufhin is a powerful logical connector used to describe a sequential reaction. In English, it is most closely translated as 'thereupon,' 'immediately after that,' or 'as a result of that.' Unlike the simple temporal marker 'dann' (then), 'daraufhin' implies a direct causal link between a preceding event and the subsequent action. It suggests that the second action happened because of the first one, or at least in direct response to it. This makes it an essential tool for B1 learners who want to move beyond basic storytelling and start expressing complex relationships between events.

Grammatical Category: Pronominal Adverb (Adverbialpronomen). It functions as a connector that occupies a position in the sentence, often triggering verb-second (V2) word order.

Der Chef kritisierte die Arbeit; daraufhin kündigte der Mitarbeiter sofort.

In everyday German, you will encounter this word frequently in news reports, police statements, and formal narratives. It provides a sense of narrative drive. When you use 'daraufhin,' you are signaling to your listener that the story is progressing logically. For instance, if someone tells you a joke and you laugh, you could say: 'Er erzählte einen Witz, und daraufhin lachten alle.' This sounds much more sophisticated than simply saying 'und dann lachten alle,' as it emphasizes that the laughter was a direct consequence of the joke.

Register: Neutral to Formal. It is perfectly acceptable in spoken German but shines in written reports and professional emails where clarity of cause and effect is paramount.

Das Unternehmen machte Verluste. Daraufhin wurden Sparmaßnahmen beschlossen.

Understanding 'daraufhin' also requires understanding its structural composition. It is a 'Da-compound.' Like 'darüber' or 'damit,' it avoids repeating a noun phrase. Instead of saying 'After the announcement of the news, he cried,' you say 'The news was announced. Thereupon (daraufhin) he cried.' This condensation is a hallmark of efficient German communication. It allows the speaker to maintain a fast pace without losing the logical thread of the conversation. In academic contexts, it is used to describe experimental results or historical developments, providing a clear timeline of events where one thing leads to another.

Nuance: It is more immediate than 'später' (later) and more specific than 'danach' (after that). It implies that the reaction happened quite soon after the trigger.

Die Polizei gab einen Warnschuss ab. Daraufhin ergaben sich die Täter.

Using daraufhin correctly requires attention to German sentence structure, specifically the 'Verb-Second' rule. Because 'daraufhin' is an adverb and often starts a new main clause, it typically occupies the first position. When it does, the conjugated verb must follow immediately, with the subject pushed to the third position. This is the most common way to use the word to create a strong link between two sentences.

Position 1: The Connector: [Daraufhin] + [Verb] + [Subject] + [Other]. Example: 'Daraufhin kaufte er ein Auto.'

Es gab ein lautes Geräusch. Daraufhin rannten alle Menschen nach draußen.

However, 'daraufhin' is flexible. It can also appear in the middle of a sentence (the 'Mittelfeld'). This is common when you want to keep the subject in the first position to maintain focus on the actor rather than the sequence. In this case, the word order is [Subject] + [Verb] + [daraufhin]. This subtle shift can change the emphasis of the sentence without changing the core meaning. For example, 'Er entschied sich daraufhin für eine Therapie' focuses more on 'He' and his decision-making process.

Position 3: Mid-sentence: [Subject] + [Verb] + [daraufhin]. Example: 'Die Regierung reagierte daraufhin mit neuen Gesetzen.'

Sie erhielt die Zusage für den Job. Sie lud daraufhin ihre Freunde zum Essen ein.

One advanced way to use 'daraufhin' is to connect it to a specific noun via a prepositional construction, although this is less common than its use as a standalone adverb. Usually, it refers to a whole preceding statement. If you want to say 'Following the investigation,' you would use 'Nach der Untersuchung.' But if you say 'The investigation ended. Thereupon, the suspect was released,' you use 'daraufhin.' This distinction is crucial for achieving natural-sounding German. It replaces the need for clunky phrases like 'Nachdem das passiert war' (After that had happened).

Combining with 'und': You can use 'und daraufhin' to join two clauses within a single sentence. This is very common in narrative prose.

Das Wetter verschlechterte sich, und daraufhin wurde die Wanderung abgebrochen.

Finally, pay attention to the 'hin' suffix. In German, 'hin' often implies movement away from a point or towards a goal. In 'daraufhin,' it metaphorically describes the movement of time or the flow of logic from the cause to the effect. This mental image of a 'path' from A to B can help you remember when to use it versus words like 'danach,' which are more about simple stacking of events in a list.

If you turn on the German news (Tagesschau) or read a newspaper like the 'Süddeutsche Zeitung,' you will hear daraufhin constantly. It is the gold standard for reporting on political reactions, economic shifts, and legal proceedings. Journalists use it to link a government's action with the public's reaction. For example: 'Der Minister trat zurück. Daraufhin begannen Spekulationen über seine Nachfolge.' This creates a professional, objective tone that is highly valued in German journalism.

News & Media: Used to link events in a chain of causality. Essential for reporting on strikes, protests, or market fluctuations.

Die Zinsen wurden erhöht. Daraufhin fielen die Aktienkurse weltweit.

In the workplace, 'daraufhin' is used during meetings or in formal emails to explain the rationale behind a decision. If a project was delayed and a new deadline was set, you might say: 'Die Software hatte Fehler. Daraufhin haben wir den Zeitplan angepasst.' It sounds more professional than 'Deshalb' (Therefore) because it emphasizes the temporal sequence—first the error, then the adjustment. It shows that the action was a considered response to a specific situation.

Legal and Police Reports: Police reports use it to describe the sequence of a crime or an arrest. 'Der Zeuge rief die Polizei. Daraufhin wurde der Verdächtige festgenommen.'

Das Gericht hörte die Zeugen. Daraufhin wurde das Urteil verkündet.

In literature and storytelling, 'daraufhin' acts as a 'beat' in the narrative. It signals a shift in the action. Think of a thriller novel: 'Sie hörte ein Knacken im Wald. Daraufhin hielt sie den Atem an.' Here, 'daraufhin' builds tension by showing the character's immediate physiological response to a stimulus. It is less common in very casual, slang-heavy conversation, where people might prefer 'und dann' or 'da', but it is by no means 'stiff'. It is simply a word for when you want to be clear about why things are happening in the order they are.

Everyday Interactions: Used when explaining a chain of events to friends, especially if the reaction was surprising or significant.

Ich habe ihr Blumen geschenkt. Sie hat daraufhin vor Freude geweint.

The most frequent mistake learners make with daraufhin is confusing it with the simple prepositional phrase 'darauf'. While they look similar, their meanings are vastly different. 'Darauf' usually means 'on top of it' or 'to it' (e.g., 'Ich warte darauf' - I am waiting for it). 'Daraufhin,' however, is strictly temporal and causal. If you say 'Ich warte daraufhin,' you are saying 'I am waiting as a result of that,' which is usually not what you mean if you are waiting for a bus.

Confusion with 'darauf': Incorrect: Ich freue mich daraufhin. (I look forward as a result? No.) Correct: Ich freue mich darauf. (I look forward to it.)

Wrong: Er fiel hin. Darauf weinte er. (He cried on it?) Right: Er fiel hin. Daraufhin weinte er.

Another common error involves word order. Many English speakers treat 'daraufhin' like the English word 'thereupon' or 'then' and fail to invert the subject and verb. In English, we say 'Then he went.' In German, you cannot say 'Daraufhin er ging.' You must say 'Daraufhin ging er.' Forgetting this inversion is a classic 'giveaway' of an English-speaking learner. Always remember: if 'daraufhin' is in Position 1, the verb MUST be in Position 2.

Overuse vs 'dann': Don't use 'daraufhin' for every sequence. If you are just listing chores (I cleaned, then I cooked), 'dann' is better. Use 'daraufhin' only when the first event triggered the second.

Unnatural: Ich stehe auf. Daraufhin putze ich Zähne. (Too dramatic!) Natural: Ich stehe auf. Dann putze ich Zähne.

Learners also sometimes confuse 'daraufhin' with 'infolgedessen' (consequently). While they are similar, 'infolgedessen' is even more formal and strictly logical, often used in scientific or legal contexts. 'Daraufhin' has a slightly more narrative, sequential feel. Using 'infolgedessen' in a casual story about a party might sound a bit too 'robotic.' Conversely, using 'daraufhin' in a PhD thesis is fine, but 'infolgedessen' might be more precise for showing a logical deduction.

Prepositional Confusion: Do not use 'daraufhin' with a noun. It is an adverb. You cannot say 'Daraufhin der Regen...' You must say 'Nach dem Regen...' or 'Es regnete. Daraufhin...'

Wrong: Daraufhin des Unfalls rief er an. Right: Wegen des Unfalls / Nach dem Unfall rief er an.

To master daraufhin, you must understand its neighbors in the German language. The closest synonym is 'anschließend', which means 'subsequently.' However, 'anschließend' is more about the order in time and less about the causal reaction. If you want to emphasize that B happened because of A, 'daraufhin' is your best choice. If you just want to say B happened after A, 'anschließend' or 'danach' works better.

Comparison: Daraufhin vs. Danach: Danach: Simple 'after that'. No causal link required.
Daraufhin: 'Thereupon'. Implies the first event prompted the second.

Er aß zu Mittag. Danach ging er spazieren. (Sequence)
Er sah eine Schlange. Daraufhin rannte er weg. (Reaction)

Another alternative is 'folglich' or 'infolgedessen'. these translate to 'consequently' or 'as a result.' These are more common in logical arguments or academic writing. They focus heavily on the logic: If A is true, then B follows. 'Daraufhin' is more 'event-based': Event A happened, and then Event B followed as a reaction. Use 'folglich' when you are proving a point, and 'daraufhin' when you are telling a story or reporting an event.

Comparison: Daraufhin vs. Deswegen: Deswegen: 'Because of that'. Focuses entirely on the reason.
Daraufhin: Focuses on the sequence of the reaction.

Es regnete. Deswegen blieben wir zu Hause. (The rain is the reason.)
Die Ampel wurde grün. Daraufhin fuhr er los. (The light triggered the action.)

Finally, consider the phrase 'als Reaktion darauf' (as a reaction to that). This is a multi-word alternative that is very clear but slightly more wordy. It is excellent for variety in your writing. If you have already used 'daraufhin' twice in a paragraph, switching to 'als Reaktion darauf' keeps your text from becoming repetitive. Similarly, 'nachdem' can be used to create a subordinate clause: 'Nachdem er die Nachricht gehört hatte, rief er sie an.' This conveys the same meaning as 'Er hörte die Nachricht. Daraufhin rief er sie an,' but uses a different grammatical structure.

Word List for Variety: 1. Anschließend (Subsequently)
2. Folglich (Consequently)
3. Infolgedessen (As a result)
4. Darauf (Afterwards - less common for reactions)
5. Sodann (Then - very formal/archaic)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The 'da-' in these words is actually a shortened form of 'dar-', which is related to the English word 'there'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /daˈraʊ̯fˌhɪn/

US /dəˈraʊfˌhɪn/

Second syllable (rauf).

Rhymes With

dahin wohin mithin vorhin Gewinn Sinn Beginn Kinn

Common Errors

Pronouncing it as 'dar-auf-hin' with equal stress.
Swallowing the 'h' so it sounds like 'darauf-in'.
Pronouncing the 'd' too softly like a 'th'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize once the 'da-compound' structure is understood.

Writing 4/5

Requires mastering V2 word order and knowing when to use it over 'dann'.

Speaking 4/5

Harder to use spontaneously in conversation without practice.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation makes it easy to spot in news or podcasts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

dann danach auf hin da

Learn Next

woraufhin infolgedessen folglich demzufolge

Advanced

daher darum deswegen weshalb

Grammar to Know

V2 Word Order

Daraufhin [ging] er.

Pronominal Adverbs

da + (r) + preposition.

Main Clause Connectors

Starts a new sentence or follows a semicolon.

Inversion

Switching Subject and Verb after an adverb.

Causal Linking

Showing 'why' through 'when'.

Examples by Level

Er rief an. Daraufhin kam ich.

He called. Thereupon I came.

Simple V2 order with 'daraufhin' in position 1.

Es regnete. Daraufhin blieb ich zu Hause.

It rained. Thereupon I stayed at home.

Connects cause (rain) to effect (staying home).

Sie lachte. Daraufhin lachte er auch.

She laughed. Thereupon he laughed too.

Shows immediate social reaction.

Der Hund bellte. Daraufhin rannte die Katze weg.

The dog barked. Thereupon the cat ran away.

Action-reaction sequence.

Ich hatte Hunger. Daraufhin kochte ich Suppe.

I was hungry. Thereupon I cooked soup.

Logical sequence of daily life.

Die Musik war laut. Daraufhin tanzten wir.

The music was loud. Thereupon we danced.

Simple causal link.

Er verlor den Schlüssel. Daraufhin suchte er überall.

He lost the key. Thereupon he searched everywhere.

Reaction to a problem.

Das Baby weinte. Daraufhin gab die Mutter ihm Milch.

The baby cried. Thereupon the mother gave it milk.

Immediate response to a need.

Der Lehrer stellte eine Frage. Daraufhin meldete ich mich.

The teacher asked a question. Thereupon I raised my hand.

Formal school context.

Mein Handy ging kaputt. Daraufhin kaufte ich ein neues.

My phone broke. Thereupon I bought a new one.

Sequence of events in consumer life.

Die Ampel wurde rot. Daraufhin hielt das Auto an.

The traffic light turned red. Thereupon the car stopped.

Standard reaction to a signal.

Er sagte 'Hallo'. Daraufhin antwortete sie freundlich.

He said 'Hello'. Thereupon she answered kindly.

Social interaction.

Wir hatten keine Milch mehr. Daraufhin ging ich zum Supermarkt.

We had no more milk. Thereupon I went to the supermarket.

Problem-solution link.

Der Film war traurig. Daraufhin weinten viele Zuschauer.

The movie was sad. Thereupon many viewers cried.

Emotional reaction.

Es wurde dunkel. Daraufhin machten wir das Licht an.

It became dark. Thereupon we turned the light on.

Environmental reaction.

Sie gewann im Lotto. Daraufhin kündigte sie ihren Job.

She won the lottery. Thereupon she quit her job.

Major life event reaction.

Die Firma machte Verluste. Daraufhin wurden Mitarbeiter entlassen.

The company made losses. Thereupon employees were laid off.

Passive voice combined with 'daraufhin'.

Der Zeuge gab einen Hinweis. Daraufhin nahm die Polizei den Verdächtigen fest.

The witness gave a tip. Thereupon the police arrested the suspect.

Legal/Reporting context.

Das Wetter verschlechterte sich plötzlich. Daraufhin wurde das Konzert abgebrochen.

The weather suddenly worsened. Thereupon the concert was cancelled.

Causal link in event planning.

Er las die E-Mail und rief daraufhin sofort seinen Chef an.

He read the email and thereupon immediately called his boss.

Middle position of 'daraufhin' in a clause.

Die Regierung kündigte Reformen an. Daraufhin gab es Proteste.

The government announced reforms. Thereupon there were protests.

Political cause and effect.

Der Sportler verletzte sich. Daraufhin musste er die Saison beenden.

The athlete injured himself. Thereupon he had to end the season.

Consequence of an accident.

Die Preise stiegen stark an. Daraufhin kauften die Menschen weniger Fleisch.

Prices rose sharply. Thereupon people bought less meat.

Economic reaction.

Sie bestand die Prüfung nicht. Daraufhin meldete sie sich für einen Nachhilfekurs an.

She didn't pass the exam. Thereupon she signed up for a tutoring course.

Constructive reaction to failure.

Die Studie zeigte Mängel auf. Daraufhin änderte das Labor seine Methoden.

The study revealed flaws. Thereupon the laboratory changed its methods.

Scientific/Professional context.

Es gab massive Beschwerden der Kunden. Das Unternehmen reagierte daraufhin mit einer Entschuldigung.

There were massive customer complaints. The company thereupon reacted with an apology.

Using 'reagieren daraufhin' as a common collocation.

Der Verdacht bestätigte sich nicht. Daraufhin wurde das Verfahren eingestellt.

The suspicion was not confirmed. Thereupon the proceedings were closed.

Legal terminology (Verfahren einstellen).

Die Aktienkurse brachen ein. Viele Anleger verkauften daraufhin ihre Anteile.

Stock prices plummeted. Many investors thereupon sold their shares.

Financial reaction.

Der Autor wurde für den Preis nominiert. Daraufhin stiegen die Verkaufszahlen seines Buches.

The author was nominated for the prize. Thereupon the sales figures of his book increased.

Correlation between fame and sales.

Die Verhandlungen scheiterten. Daraufhin drohten die Gewerkschaften mit Streik.

The negotiations failed. Thereupon the unions threatened to strike.

Industrial relations context.

Ein Fehler im System wurde entdeckt. Daraufhin wurde die gesamte Produktion gestoppt.

An error in the system was discovered. Thereupon the entire production was stopped.

Industrial/Technical context.

Die Beweislast war erdrückend. Der Angeklagte legte daraufhin ein Geständnis ab.

The burden of proof was overwhelming. The defendant thereupon made a confession.

Formal legal narrative.

Die philosophische Abhandlung löste heftige Debatten aus. Daraufhin revidierte der Autor einige seiner Thesen.

The philosophical treatise triggered heated debates. Thereupon the author revised some of his theses.

Academic/Intellectual context.

Die diplomatischen Beziehungen kühlten ab. Daraufhin wurden die Botschafter beider Länder abberufen.

Diplomatic relations cooled down. Thereupon the ambassadors of both countries were recalled.

Geopolitical terminology.

Die ökologischen Folgen waren verheerend. Daraufhin verschärfte die Regierung die Umweltauflagen.

The ecological consequences were devastating. Thereupon the government tightened environmental regulations.

Policy-making context.

Es mangelte an Transparenz. Daraufhin forderten die Aktionäre eine unabhängige Prüfung.

There was a lack of transparency. Thereupon the shareholders demanded an independent audit.

Corporate governance context.

Die Entdeckung des neuen Elements war eine Sensation. Daraufhin wurde die gesamte Theorie der Materie infrage gestellt.

The discovery of the new element was a sensation. Thereupon the entire theory of matter was called into question.

Scientific paradigm shift.

Die soziale Ungleichheit nahm zu. Daraufhin bildeten sich neue politische Bewegungen.

Social inequality increased. Thereupon new political movements formed.

Sociological analysis.

Der Skandal wurde publik. Daraufhin trat der gesamte Vorstand geschlossen zurück.

The scandal became public. Thereupon the entire board resigned en masse.

High-level corporate reporting.

Die technischen Spezifikationen änderten sich. Daraufhin musste die Softwarearchitektur grundlegend überarbeitet werden.

The technical specifications changed. Thereupon the software architecture had to be fundamentally revised.

Technical/Software engineering context.

Die Hegemonialansprüche der Großmacht führten zu Spannungen. Daraufhin formierte sich eine Allianz der kleineren Staaten.

The big power's claims to hegemony led to tensions. Thereupon an alliance of smaller states formed.

Advanced historical/political analysis.

Die künstlerische Provokation stieß auf Unverständnis. Daraufhin zog sich der Maler in die Isolation zurück.

The artistic provocation met with lack of understanding. Thereupon the painter withdrew into isolation.

Biographical/Artistic narrative.

Die ökonomische Theorie erwies sich als unzureichend. Daraufhin wurden alternative Wirtschaftsmodelle diskutiert.

The economic theory proved to be insufficient. Thereupon alternative economic models were discussed.

Theoretical critique.

Die Verfassungsänderung wurde knapp abgelehnt. Daraufhin stürzte das Land in eine tiefe Verfassungskrise.

The constitutional amendment was narrowly rejected. Thereupon the country plunged into a deep constitutional crisis.

Political/Legal crisis reporting.

Die linguistische Wende veränderte die Geisteswissenschaften. Daraufhin verlagerte sich der Fokus auf die Analyse von Diskursen.

The linguistic turn changed the humanities. Thereupon the focus shifted to the analysis of discourses.

Academic historiography.

Die Entdeckung der Radioaktivität war bahnbrechend. Daraufhin revidierten Physiker ihr Verständnis des Atoms.

The discovery of radioactivity was groundbreaking. Thereupon physicists revised their understanding of the atom.

History of science.

Die moralischen Implikationen der KI-Forschung wurden deutlicher. Daraufhin wurden ethische Richtlinien für Entwickler verabschiedet.

The moral implications of AI research became clearer. Thereupon ethical guidelines for developers were passed.

Contemporary ethical debate.

Die demografische Entwicklung erforderte Anpassungen. Daraufhin wurde das Renteneintrittsalter schrittweise erhöht.

Demographic development required adjustments. Thereupon the retirement age was gradually increased.

Public policy/Sociology.

Common Collocations

reagierte daraufhin

entschied sich daraufhin

daraufhin wurde beschlossen

daraufhin folgte

daraufhin gab es

kündigte daraufhin

änderte daraufhin

daraufhin geschah

daraufhin rief er

daraufhin sagte er

Common Phrases

Kurz daraufhin

— Shortly after that happened.

Kurz daraufhin meldete er sich wieder.

Und daraufhin?

— And what happened then (as a result)?

Sie hat ihn beleidigt. - Und daraufhin?

Daraufhin war Ruhe.

— After that, there was silence/peace.

Der Lehrer schimpfte. Daraufhin war Ruhe.

Daraufhin ist zu sagen...

— In response to that, it must be said...

Daraufhin ist zu sagen, dass wir alles versucht haben.

Daraufhin angesprochen...

— When asked about that...

Daraufhin angesprochen, verweigerte er die Aussage.

Unmittelbar daraufhin

— Immediately following that event.

Unmittelbar daraufhin brach das Feuer aus.

Daraufhin folgte die Wende.

— Then came the turning point.

Daraufhin folgte die Wende im Spiel.

Daraufhin gab er nach.

— Thereupon he gave in/yielded.

Sie bettelte lange. Daraufhin gab er nach.

Daraufhin änderte sich alles.

— After that, everything changed.

Der Krieg begann. Daraufhin änderte sich alles.

Daraufhin wurde klar...

— Thereupon it became clear...

Daraufhin wurde klar, dass er gelogen hatte.

Often Confused With

daraufhin vs darauf

Means 'on it' or 'waiting for it'. No causal link.

daraufhin vs dahin

Means 'to that place' or 'gone/over'.

daraufhin vs darum

Means 'therefore' or 'around it'.

Idioms & Expressions

"Daraufhin kein Wort mehr verlieren"

— To not say another word about the matter after it happened.

Er wurde bestraft und verlor daraufhin kein Wort mehr darüber.

neutral

"Daraufhin die Segel streichen"

— To give up or admit defeat as a result of an event.

Die Konkurrenz war zu stark; sie strichen daraufhin die Segel.

figurative

"Daraufhin aus der Haut fahren"

— To lose one's temper as a direct reaction.

Er wurde provoziert und fuhr daraufhin aus der Haut.

informal

"Daraufhin Reißaus nehmen"

— To run away immediately as a reaction.

Der Dieb sah das Blaulicht und nahm daraufhin Reißaus.

informal

"Daraufhin Farbe bekennen"

— To show one's true colors or take a stand after being pressured.

Man fragte ihn direkt, und er musste daraufhin Farbe bekennen.

neutral

"Daraufhin den Kopf in den Sand stecken"

— To ignore a problem after it arises.

Die Krise kam, und er steckte daraufhin den Kopf in den Sand.

informal

"Daraufhin Lunte riechen"

— To become suspicious as a result of an observation.

Er sah den fremden Wagen und roch daraufhin Lunte.

informal

"Daraufhin die Flinte ins Korn werfen"

— To give up hope after a failure.

Das Experiment misslang, und er warf daraufhin die Flinte ins Korn.

neutral

"Daraufhin auf Granit beißen"

— To meet with total resistance after an attempt.

Er wollte mehr Geld, biss daraufhin aber auf Granit.

neutral

"Daraufhin in den sauren Apfel beißen"

— To do something unpleasant because one has to as a result.

Es gab keine Alternative, er musste daraufhin in den sauren Apfel beißen.

neutral

Easily Confused

daraufhin vs danach

Both mean 'after that'.

'Danach' is just time. 'Daraufhin' is time + reaction.

Ich duschte, danach schlief ich. (No reaction, just order.)

daraufhin vs deshalb

Both show cause.

'Deshalb' is the reason. 'Daraufhin' is the reaction in time.

Es regnet, deshalb bin ich nass. (Reason)

daraufhin vs anschließend

Both mean 'subsequently'.

'Anschließend' is more formal and strictly temporal.

Die Rede endete, anschließend gab es Sekt.

daraufhin vs folglich

Both show results.

'Folglich' is for logic/math/arguments.

A=B, B=C, folglich A=C.

daraufhin vs dafür

Sound similar.

'Dafür' means 'for that' or 'instead'.

Ich bin dafür. (I am for it.)

Sentence Patterns

Es passierte X. Daraufhin machte ich Y.

Es regnete. Daraufhin blieb ich hier.

Subjekt + Verb + daraufhin + Objekt.

Er kaufte daraufhin ein Haus.

Und daraufhin + Verb + Subjekt.

Und daraufhin lachte sie.

Daraufhin wurde [Passiv]...

Daraufhin wurde die Fabrik geschlossen.

Als Reaktion daraufhin...

Als Reaktion daraufhin änderte er den Plan.

Woraufhin [Nebensatz]...

Er schrie, woraufhin sie ging.

Kurz daraufhin + Verb...

Kurz daraufhin erschien die Polizei.

Daraufhin lässt sich konstatieren...

Daraufhin lässt sich konstatieren, dass die Theorie falsch ist.

Word Family

Nouns

Hinweis

Hinblick

Hinsicht

Verbs

hinweisen

hinführen

hinausgehen

Adjectives

hinreichend

hinfällig

darüber

darum

daran

daraus

dabei

How to Use It

frequency

High in written German, Medium-High in spoken German.

Common Mistakes

Daraufhin er sagte... → Daraufhin sagte er...
The verb must come second.
Ich warte daraufhin. → Ich warte darauf.
Confusing 'daraufhin' (reaction) with 'darauf' (object of waiting).
Using it for a simple list: Ich esse, daraufhin schlafe ich. → Ich esse, danach schlafe ich.
Sleeping is not usually a 'reaction' to eating in this context.
Daraufhin des Regens... → Wegen des Regens...
'Daraufhin' is an adverb, not a preposition. It cannot be followed by a noun in the genitive/dative.
Spelling it 'darauf hin' (with a space). → daraufhin
In modern German, it is written as one word.

Tips

The V2 Rule

Always place the verb immediately after 'daraufhin' if it starts the sentence.

Avoid Repetition

Use 'daraufhin' as a synonym for 'deshalb' or 'dann' to make your writing more interesting.

News Language

Read German news to see 'daraufhin' in its natural habitat.

Think 'Reaction'

Only use it when one thing leads to another. Don't use it for random lists.

Narrative Beat

Use it to give your stories a professional 'beat' or rhythm.

Business Emails

Use it to explain why you took a certain action in response to a client's request.

vs Danach

If you could say 'because of that' in English, use 'daraufhin'.

Woraufhin

Once you master 'daraufhin', try using 'woraufhin' for smoother sentence connections.

The Arrow

Imagine 'daraufhin' is a physical arrow pointing from the cause to the effect.

B1 Exam Tip

Using 'daraufhin' correctly in the writing part will help you get a higher score for 'cohesion'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'The Roof' (Rauf) and 'Him' (Hin). 'The Roof fell on Him, and thereupon he cried.'

Visual Association

Imagine a domino effect. One tile falls, and 'daraufhin' is the arrow pointing to the next tile falling.

Word Web

Causality Sequence Reaction Logic Narrative Formal Result Time

Challenge

Try to write a 5-sentence story where every sentence after the first starts with 'Daraufhin'.

Word Origin

Formed from the pronominal adverb 'darauf' (da + auf) and the directional particle 'hin'.

Original meaning: Literally 'there-upon-to', indicating a movement of time or logic from a foundation.

Germanic (High German).

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities, but ensure the causal link is actually there to avoid sounding illogical.

English speakers often use 'then' or 'so' to cover what 'daraufhin' does, but 'daraufhin' is more precise.

Used frequently in the Grimm brothers' fairy tales to describe magical reactions. Common in legal texts like the BGB (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch). Standard in Tagesschau news scripts.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

News Reporting

Daraufhin erklärte der Sprecher...
Daraufhin fielen die Kurse...
Daraufhin wurde Kritik laut...
Daraufhin änderte sich die Lage...

Police/Legal

Daraufhin wurde Anzeige erstattet.
Daraufhin erfolgte die Festnahme.
Daraufhin wurde das Urteil gefällt.
Daraufhin gestand der Täter.

Business

Daraufhin passten wir das Budget an.
Daraufhin wurde die Sitzung beendet.
Daraufhin kündigte der Kunde.
Daraufhin stieg der Umsatz.

Personal Narrative

Daraufhin haben wir uns versöhnt.
Daraufhin bin ich weggegangen.
Daraufhin hat sie geweint.
Daraufhin war ich sauer.

Science

Daraufhin änderte sich die Farbe.
Daraufhin wurde das Experiment gestoppt.
Daraufhin stieg die Temperatur.
Daraufhin wurde die Hypothese verworfen.

Conversation Starters

"Was ist passiert, nachdem du die Nachricht erhalten hast? Hast du daraufhin jemanden angerufen?"

"Die Preise für Benzin sind gestiegen. Hast du daraufhin dein Fahrverhalten geändert?"

"Es gab gestern ein Gewitter. Seid ihr daraufhin zu Hause geblieben?"

"Dein Chef hat dir ein Kompliment gemacht. Wie hast du daraufhin reagiert?"

"Die U-Bahn hatte Verspätung. Bist du daraufhin zu Fuß gegangen?"

Journal Prompts

Schreibe über eine wichtige Entscheidung in deinem Leben. Was ist passiert und was hast du daraufhin getan?

Denk an einen Streit, den du beobachtet hast. Wie hat eine Person etwas gesagt und wie hat die andere daraufhin reagiert?

Beschreibe einen Tag, an dem alles schiefgegangen ist. Nutze 'daraufhin', um die Kette der Ereignisse zu beschreiben.

Stell dir vor, du gewinnst eine Million Euro. Was würdest du daraufhin als Erstes tun?

Wie hat sich dein Leben durch die Pandemie verändert? Was hast du daraufhin in deinem Alltag angepasst?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, it is an adverb. This means it doesn't change the sentence structure like 'weil' or 'dass'. It just takes up a position in the sentence.

Technically yes, but it is very rare. Usually, it is at the beginning or in the middle (Position 1 or 3).

'Daraufhin' starts a new main sentence. 'Woraufhin' connects a subordinate clause to a main clause with a comma.

No, it usually implies a relatively immediate or direct reaction. For long delays, use 'viel später'.

Yes, but it might sound a bit formal. 'Und dann' is more common in very casual texts.

No, it is an adverb and does not affect the case of nouns around it.

The 'h' is pronounced like a normal German 'h' at the start of a syllable. It should not be silent.

No! You must say 'Daraufhin ging ich'. The verb must be in the second position.

Yes, it is standard across all German-speaking countries.

Yes, if the paragraph is a direct reaction to the events of the previous paragraph.