This is the 1029th most frequent Swedish word.
förr
"Förr" means "before" or "in the past" in English.
Here, 'förr' is used to indicate a time in the past referring to a previous habitual situation.
Förr bodde jag i Stockholm.
I used to live in Stockholm.
In this sentence, 'förr i tiden' is a fixed expression meaning 'in the past', describing a general past state or circumstance.
Förr i tiden fanns det fler småbutiker.
In the past, there used to be more small shops.
'Förr eller senare' is a common phrase meaning 'sooner or later', indicating inevitability or an undetermined future point in time.