Spanish word

temprano

Pronunciation

IPA/temˈpɾano/

Meaning

  • adverbearly

Example

Llegó temprano a la reunión.

He got to the meeting early.

Illustration for temprano (early)

More examples

Me levanto temprano para ir a la escuela.

I get up early to go to school.

Me acosté temprano para tener energía.

I went to bed early to have energy.

Core concept

A clock showing just after dawn.

Common phrases

  • despertarse temprano

    wake up early

  • temprano por la mañana

    early in the morning

  • salir temprano de casa

    leave home early

Similar words

pronto: Happens soon, in the near future.
a tiempo: Meets an agreed time or the deadline.
antes: Happens prior to a specific point in time.

Definition in Spanish

Señala que algo sucede en las primeras horas del día o con antelación respecto a lo acordado.

Word origin

From Latin temporānus meaning 'of time', it enters the Romance languages and Old Spanish, where it describes the early part of the day or events occurring before the agreed time.

Usage tips

  • It is used with verbs like llegar, venir or partir to mean arriving earlier than planned, not to mean 'soon' or 'right away'.

Opposites

Related words

  • tempraneroearly-risingadjective
  • tempranamenteearlyadverb

Word lists with this word