Spanish word

ayer

Pronunciation

IPA/aˈʝeɾ/

Meaning

  • adverbyesterday

Example

No trabajé ayer.

I didn't work yesterday.

Illustration for ayer (yesterday)

More examples

Hasta ayer no lo sabía.

I didn't know it until yesterday.

Core concept

The calendar day immediately before today.

Common phrases

  • ayer mismo

    just yesterday

  • hasta ayer

    until yesterday

  • ayer por la tarde

    yesterday afternoon

Similar words

anoche: Nighttime of the day immediately before today.
anteayer: Calendar day two days before today.
hoy: Current calendar day.
antes: Any time earlier than a specified point.

Definition in Spanish

Indica el día inmediatamente anterior al día en que se habla.

Word origin

Ayer derives from Latin heri 'yesterday' and reached modern Spanish through regular sound changes in Vulgar Latin and Old Spanish.

Usage tips

  • It is commonly paired with the preterite to report completed actions, as in 'Ayer fui al cine' for 'I went to the cinema yesterday'.

Opposites

Word lists with this word