Time is one of the most fundamental concepts we discuss every day. Whether you're talking about what you did yesterday, what you're doing today, or what you plan to do tomorrow, these three time expressions are absolutely essential in Spanish conversation. Today, we'll explore how to say and use the time adverbs for yesterday, today, and tomorrow in Spanish (ayer, hoy, and mañana) with clear examples and practical usage.
Let's start with the basics. Here are the three key time expressions for yesterday, today, and tomorrow in Spanish:
Ayer = Yesterday
Hoy = Today
Mañana = Tomorrow
These three words are the foundation of talking about time in Spanish, and you'll use them constantly in everyday conversation.
The word ayer is pronounced "ah-YAIR." Notice that the stress falls on the second syllable. It's a simple two-syllable word that's easy to remember and pronounce.
ayer,
yesterday,
Caption 71, Fermín y Manuel El pasado - Part 2
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Hoy is perhaps the simplest of the three words. It's pronounced exactly like the English word "oy" but with a slight "h" sound at the beginning: "oy." It's just one syllable, making it very straightforward.
hoy,
today,
Caption 81, Fermín y Manuel El pasado - Part 2
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Mañana is pronounced "mah-NYAH-nah." The stress falls on the second syllable, and don't forget that "ñ" makes the "ny" sound. Interestingly, mañana can also mean "morning," but context will always make it clear which meaning is intended.
Mañana.
Mañana [tomorrow].
Caption 26, Graciela Alfabeto y formación de sílabas
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Vuelvan mañana por la mañana y les atenderemos de ocho a una y media".
Come back tomorrow morning, and we'll attend to you from eight to one-thirty."
Captions 49-50, Aprendiendo con Silvia Horas, fechas y períodos de tiempo - Part 4
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Notice how in this example, the word mañana functions as both "tomorrow" and "morning" in the very common Spanish expression mañana por la mañana (tomorrow moning).
Now let's see how to use these time expressions in real sentences. The great news is that they typically go at the beginning or end of a sentence, just like in English.
You can use ayer with past tense verbs to talk about what happened yesterday:
Mañana es sábado
Tomorrow is Saturday,
Caption 21, Aprendiendo con Zulbany Piensa rápido - Part 3
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"La reunión es mañana"
"The meeting is tomorrow"
Caption 58, Carlos explica El verbo "ser" - Part 2
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Hoy is used with present tense verbs to talk about what's happening today:
Hoy os traigo un recorrido muy especial
Today, I'm bringing you a very special tour
Caption 2, Fuengirola El Paseo de los Murales de El Boquetillo - Part 1
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y también hoy tenemos la novedad del queso canárico.
and today we also have the novelty of Canarian cheese.
Caption 17, Kowy Queso
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Mañana is typically used with future tense or "ir a + infinitive" constructions:
¿Vamos mañana a la piscina?
Are we going tomorrow to the pool?
Caption 7, Fundamentos del Español 4 - Las Preguntas
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No, mañana vamos a llegar a la casa
No, tomorrow we're going to get home,
Caption 33, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 12 - Part 7
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Once you master ayer, hoy, and mañana, you can expand your time vocabulary with related expressions:
Anteayer = The day before yesterday
Anoche: Last night
Pasado mañana = The day after tomorrow
Esta mañana = This morning
Esta tarde = This afternoon/evening
Esta noche = Tonight
Keep in mind that anteayer is the preferred and standard form across the Spanish-speaking world, though you might also see antes de ayer (which means the same thing). Additionally, you might hear antier in some Latin American countries, particularly in Mexico and Central America. However, anteayer is the recommended form to use in formal speech and writing.
Y "anteayer" me encontré con unas amigas,
And "the day before yesterday," I met up with some friends,
Caption 12, Aprendiendo con Silvia Horas, fechas y períodos de tiempo - Part 3
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Learning to say yesterday, today, and tomorrow in Spanish—ayer, hoy, and mañana—is crucial for basic communication. These fundamental time expressions will help you talk about your daily activities, make plans, and share experiences with Spanish speakers. With proper pronunciation and regular practice, you'll be confidently using ayer, hoy, and mañana in no time.
We hope this simple guide has helped you understand these essential Spanish time expressions. Please share your thoughts and questions with us—we'd love to hear from you!
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