Spanish Conversation · Level 89
60 words
Spanish word
antaño
Pronunciation
IPA/anˈtaɲo/
Meaning
- adverbin the past
Example
Las casas antaño eran más pequeñas.
Houses were smaller in the past.
More examples
En el pueblo cuentan historias de antaño.
In the village they tell tales of yore.
Core concept
A weathered, hand-lettered wooden sign reading Antaño above an old shop.
Common phrases
historias de antaño
tales of yore
costumbres de antaño
old customs
Similar words
antiguamente: Treats past eras matter-of-factly, placing events or habits in earlier times.
antes: Denotes a time prior to now or another point, used in casual conversation.
anteriormente: Specifies that something occurred before a referenced time, often in formal texts.
Definition in Spanish
Se usa para referirse a un tiempo anterior, con un matiz más literario o nostálgico que 'antes'.
Word origin
Spanish antaño derives from Latin ante 'before' combined with annum 'year', entering Spanish through Old Spanish with the sense 'in former years'.
Usage tips
- In everyday conversation speakers favor antes or hace, while antaño appears mainly in nostalgic descriptions and historical or literary contexts.
Other meanings
- onceadverb
Opposites
- hoytodayadverb