Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Yesterday in Spanish: Ayer and Related Time Words
Ayer · adverb · ah-YEHR
Yesterday in Spanish is ayer (ah-YEHR). It functions as an adverb and can appear at the beginning or end of a sentence. Ayer typically triggers the preterite tense for completed past actions. Related terms include anteayer or antes de ayer (the day before yesterday) and ayer por la mañana / ayer por la noche (yesterday morning / last night).
Ayer is ah-YEHR, two syllables, stress on YEHR. The initial a is open, and the y is a clear palatal glide, like the y in 'yes.'
Ayer fui al mercado y compré fruta fresca.
Yesterday I went to the market and bought fresh fruit.
Yesterday in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for yesterday, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ayer | yesterday | ah-YEHR | Default, widely understood |
| anteayer | yesterday | The day before yesterday |
How Native Speakers Use Ayer
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Simple past action
Ayer terminé el libro que estaba leyendo.
Yesterday I finished the book I was reading.
Ayer signals a completed past action, triggering the preterite: terminé.
Yesterday morning
Ayer por la mañana llovió durante dos horas.
Yesterday morning it rained for two hours.
Ayer por la mañana specifies the time of day. Alternatives: ayer por la tarde (yesterday afternoon), ayer por la noche (last night).
End-of-sentence position
Hablé con mi madre ayer.
I spoke with my mother yesterday.
Ayer can go at the beginning or the end of the sentence. Placing it at the end is neutral; placing it first adds slight emphasis.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ayer
Using present tense with ayer
Incorrect: Ayer como pizza.
Correct: Ayer comí pizza.
Ayer refers to a completed past event, so you need the preterite tense (comí), not the present (como). Mixing ayer with the present tense is a common beginner error.
Confusing ayer with hoy
Incorrect: Ayer voy al cine.
Correct: Ayer fui al cine.
Ayer means yesterday, and voy (I go) is present tense. The sentence needs the preterite fui (I went). If you mean today, use hoy instead of ayer.
Lock in Yesterday Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Ayer used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Yesterday in Spanish
- How do you say yesterday in Spanish?
- Yesterday in Spanish is ayer (ah-YEHR). It usually appears with preterite verbs: Ayer estudié mucho (Yesterday I studied a lot).
- How do you say the day before yesterday in Spanish?
- The day before yesterday is anteayer (ahn-teh-ah-YEHR), sometimes written as antes de ayer. Both forms are correct and widely understood.
- Does ayer always require the preterite tense?
- Ayer most commonly pairs with the preterite for completed actions. However, it can also appear with the imperfect when describing background or ongoing past states: Ayer llovía cuando salí (Yesterday it was raining when I left). The imperfect sets the scene, and the preterite marks the punctual event.