Introduction
Learning how to say today, tomorrow, and yesterday is one of the first practical steps for beginners in Brazilian Portuguese. These time words appear everywhere: schedules, messages, menus, and conversations. This article explains the core vocabulary, simple grammar, common phrases, and realistic examples you can start using right away.
- Core vocabulary: today, tomorrow, yesterday
- Basic sentence structures with hoje, amanhã, ontem
- Using hoje, amanhã, ontem with times of day
- Negative forms and simple variations
- Short messages and notifications you will see
- Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
- Mini dialogues for real situations
- Extra useful vocabulary around time
- Conclusion
Core vocabulary: today, tomorrow, yesterday
Here are the three essential words you need to recognize and use in Brazilian Portuguese.
hoje — today
amanhã — tomorrow
ontem — yesterday
Pronunciation tips
hoje: pronounced roughly HO-zhee. The initial h is silent; the j sounds like the s in measure.
amanhã: pronounced ah-mah-NYAH. The nh produces a palatal nasal similar to the ny in canyon.
ontem: pronounced OHN-cheng or OHN-chem depending on regional accents. The t before e often becomes a soft ch sound in Brazilian pronunciation.
Basic sentence structures with hoje, amanhã, ontem
These words can be used with verbs, times, and questions. Below are typical sentence patterns for beginners.
Subject + verb + hoje
Example: Eu trabalho hoje.
Translation: I work today.
Subject + verb + amanhã
Example: Nós viajamos amanhã.
Translation: We travel tomorrow.
Subject + verb + ontem
Example: Ela estudou ontem.
Translation: She studied yesterday.
Common short phrases and questions
Use these short phrases in messages, appointments, or when checking schedules.
Que horas hoje? — What time today?
Vai ser amanhã? — Is it going to be tomorrow?
Onde você estava ontem? — Where were you yesterday?
Hoje à noite — tonight (literally today at night)
Amanhã de manhã — tomorrow morning
Ontem à tarde — yesterday afternoon
Using hoje, amanhã, ontem with times of day
Adding words for morning, afternoon, and night makes your meaning clearer in everyday contexts like appointments and messages.
manhã — morning
tarde — afternoon
noite — night
Examples:
Hoje de manhã eu tenho uma reunião.
Translation: This morning I have a meeting.
Amanhã à tarde o médico me chamou.
Translation: Tomorrow afternoon the doctor called me.
Ontem à noite fomos ao restaurante.
Translation: Last night we went to the restaurant.
Practical context: making plans and appointments
When arranging plans, Brazilians use these words in short, natural replies and confirmations.
Você pode amanhã? — Can you tomorrow?
Sim, posso hoje à tarde. — Yes, I can today in the afternoon.
Não, ontem não deu. — No, yesterday it didn’t work out. (used when explaining why something couldn’t happen)
Negative forms and simple variations
Negation is straightforward. Place não before the verb or before the whole phrase to negate actions related to today, tomorrow, or yesterday.
Eu não trabalho hoje. — I do not work today.
Não posso amanhã. — I cannot tomorrow.
Ontem não choveu. — It did not rain yesterday.
Using relative expressions and time markers
Beginners also encounter words like hoje mesmo, amanhã cedo, ontem à noite. These add nuance.
hoje mesmo — today itself, emphasize something happening today
Amanhã cedo — early tomorrow
Ontem à noite — last night
Examples:
Eu preciso do relatório hoje mesmo.
Translation: I need the report today, for sure.
Chego amanhã cedo.
Translation: I arrive early tomorrow.
Ontem à noite o filme foi bom.
Translation: Last night the movie was good.
Short messages and notifications you will see
On signs, apps, and SMS, Brazilian Portuguese often uses concise phrasing with these time words. Recognizing them helps comprehension quickly.
Hoje fechado — Closed today
Amanhã aberto das 9h às 18h — Open tomorrow from 9am to 6pm
Ontem: manutenção — Yesterday: maintenance
Example in a message:
Restaurante: Hoje aberto até às 22h. Amanhã funciona normalmente.
Translation: Restaurant: Open today until 10pm. Tomorrow it operates normally.
Practical examples for travel and services
Knowing these phrases helps with public transport, tours, and stores.
O ônibus chega hoje às 15h. — The bus arrives today at 3pm.
O tour foi adiado para amanhã. — The tour was postponed to tomorrow.
Ontem teve fila longa no caixa. — Yesterday there was a long queue at the register.
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake 1: Mixing up amanhã and ontem. Tip: amanhã points forward in time; ontem points backward.
Mistake 2: Using English word order with time words in the wrong place. Tip: In Portuguese, placing the time word after the verb is natural and correct in many sentences.
Mistake 3: Pronunciation of amanhã and ontem. Tip: Practice the palatal nh and the soft t before e. Listen to native audio and repeat slowly.
Quick pronunciation practice lines
Eu vou hoje. — I go today.
Ele vem amanhã. — He comes tomorrow.
Nós fomos ontem. — We went yesterday.
Mini dialogues for real situations
Short dialogues help you see these words in natural use. Say them aloud to build confidence.
Dialog 1: At a café
Cliente: O cardápio mudou hoje?
Barista: Não, o mesmo de ontem.
Translation: Customer: Did the menu change today?
Barista: No, the same as yesterday.
Dialog 2: Making plans
Amigo A: Quer sair amanhã à noite?
Amigo B: Sim, hoje estou cansado, mas amanhã posso.
Translation: Friend A: Do you want to go out tomorrow night?
Friend B: Yes, today I’m tired, but tomorrow I can.
Short practice exercises
Fill in the blank with hoje, amanhã, or ontem.
1. Eu trabalho _____. (I work today.)
2. O evento foi _____. (The event was yesterday.)
3. Vamos ao mercado _____. (We go to the market tomorrow.)
Answers: 1 hoje, 2 ontem, 3 amanhã
Extra useful vocabulary around time
These words often appear with hoje, amanhã, ontem.
agora — now
depois — later
já — already
ainda — still/yet
exemplos:
Estou aqui agora. — I am here now.
Faço isso depois. — I will do that later.
Já acabou? — Is it already finished?
Ainda não, volto amanhã. — Not yet, I will return tomorrow.
Tips for classroom or self-study practice
Tip 1: Label your calendar in Portuguese. Write hoje, amanhã, ontem next to events to reinforce meaning.
Tip 2: Use voice messages in Portuguese: send quick updates like Hoje estou ocupado or Amanhã posso às 10h.
Tip 3: Listen for the words in Brazilian podcasts, news, or TV. Spot hoje, amanhã, ontem to build recognition.
Conclusion
Mastering hoje, amanhã, and ontem gives you practical power to read schedules, arrange plans, and understand everyday Portuguese. Combine vocabulary with simple sentence patterns, times of day, and short dialogues. Practice pronunciation and watch for common mistakes, and you will confidently use these time words in real Brazilian Portuguese situations.
