How to use “Hoje”, “Amanhã”, and “Ontem” in Portuguese

Introduction

Learning basic time words is one of the fastest ways to start speaking Brazilian Portuguese. This article explains how to use Hoje, Amanhã, and Ontem — the core words for today, tomorrow, and yesterday — with simple grammar, common phrases, vocabulary, and realistic examples you can use right away.

What Hoje, Amanhã, and Ontem Mean

Hoje means today. Use it to talk about events happening on the current day.

Amanhã means tomorrow. Use it for plans, predictions, or appointments that will happen the next day.

Ontem means yesterday. Use it to talk about things that happened the day before today.

Basic Sentence Structure with Time Words

In Brazilian Portuguese, time words often appear at the beginning or end of a sentence. The verb tense should match the time word: present for hoje, future for amanhã, and past for ontem. Here are simple patterns to remember.

Hoje + present tense verb: Hoje eu estudo.

Amanhã + future or present with context: Amanhã eu vou estudar. or Eu estudo amanhã. (Both are common; the first uses the near future.)

Ontem + past (pretérito perfeito): Ontem eu estudei.

Present, Past, and Future Forms — Quick Guide

Present tense example with hoje: Eu trabalho hoje. (I work today.)

Past tense (pretérito perfeito) example with ontem: Eu trabalhei ontem. (I worked yesterday.)

Future tense options with amanhã: Eu vou trabalhar amanhã. (I am going to work tomorrow.)

Common Verbs with Hoje, Amanhã, Ontem

Learn a few verbs you will use often: ser, estar, ir, ter, fazer, estudar, trabalhar.

Examples with hoje:

Hoje eu estou cansado. (I am tired today.)

Hoje tenho aula. (I have class today.)

Examples with amanhã:

Amanhã vou ao médico. (I will go to the doctor tomorrow.)

Amanhã tenho prova. (I have an exam tomorrow.)

Examples with ontem:

Ontem fui ao supermercado. (I went to the supermarket yesterday.)

Ontem não tive tempo. (Yesterday I did not have time.)

Useful Phrases and Short Dialogues

These short exchanges are what you might hear in a café, school, or while messaging a friend.

Simple greeting and time question:

— Você vai hoje?
— Sim, vou hoje à noite.

Asking about tomorrow:

— A gente se encontra amanhã?
— Pode ser. Que horas?

Talking about yesterday:

— Ontem você trabalhou?
— Trabalhei o dia todo.

Practical Examples for Everyday Situations

At a restaurant or café:

Garçom: Deseja algo hoje?
Cliente: Sim, só o café, por enquanto.

On a bus schedule or sign:

Partida hoje: 18:30. Chegada amanhã: 07:45.

In a message or notification:

Mensagem: Lembrete: reunião amanhã às 9h.

On a simple form or appointment card:

Data: Hoje
Horário: 14:00

Expressions and Small Words Often Used with Hoje, Amanhã, Ontem

Common time words and particles that pair with these: agora (now), mais tarde (later), cedo (early), tarde (late), ontem à noite (last night), amanhã de manhã (tomorrow morning).

Examples:

Hoje à tarde vou ao mercado. (This afternoon I will go to the market.)

Amanhã de manhã tenho consulta. (Tomorrow morning I have an appointment.)

Ontem à noite jantei com amigos. (Last night I had dinner with friends.)

Negative Sentences and Questions

Forming negatives is straightforward: put não before the verb. Questions often use the same word order as statements, or start with a question word.

Negative examples:

Hoje eu não trabalho. (I do not work today.)

Ontem não estudei. (I did not study yesterday.)

Amanhã não vou. (I will not go tomorrow.)

Question examples:

Você vem hoje? (Are you coming today?)

O que você fez ontem? (What did you do yesterday?)

Short Practice Exercises for Beginners

Fill-in-the-blank practice with context. Replace the blank with Hoje, Amanhã, or Ontem.

1. ___ eu vou ao mercado. (You are going today)

2. ___ ela não veio na aula. (She missed class the day before)

3. Vamos nos ver ___. (We will meet the next day)

Answers: 1. Hoje 2. Ontem 3. Amanhã

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Using present tense with ontem. Correct by using past tense (pretérito perfeito) for completed actions. Wrong: Ontem eu estudo. Correct: Ontem eu estudei.

Mistake 2: Confusing amanhã with hoje in casual speech. If you mean the next day, double-check by adding de manhã, à tarde, or à noite to clarify. Example: Amanhã de manhã vs Hoje de manhã.

Mistake 3: Forgetting não placement in negatives. Non-native speakers sometimes put não at the end. It goes before the verb: Eu não vou amanhã.

Mini Vocabulary List (Brazilian Portuguese)

hoje — today

amanhã — tomorrow

ontem — yesterday

agora — now

de manhã — in the morning / morning

à tarde — in the afternoon / afternoon

à noite — at night / evening

hoje à tarde — this afternoon

amanhã de manhã — tomorrow morning

ontem à noite — last night

Tips for Remembering These Words

Tip 1: Associate the sounds with English: hoje sounds like oh-zhe, amanhã has the nasal ã like uh-MAHN-ya, and ontem begins with on- like on-tem. Saying them out loud helps memory.

Tip 2: Use them in daily notes: write Hoje on your to-do list, mark events with Amanhã, and review what you did Ontem. Small daily routines build retention.

Tip 3: Add time-of-day phrases to be specific. Instead of only saying Amanhã, try Amanhã de manhã or Amanhã à noite to practice combinations.

Short Cultural Notes for Everyday Use

In Brazil, using these words is informal and common in daily conversation, messages, and signs. For appointments or formal writing, people still use the same words but may include precise dates and times. Examples you might see on a ticket or email: Hoje às 20h, Reunião amanhã às 14h, Evento cancelado ontem.

More Realistic Example Scenarios

Scenario: Calling to confirm an appointment

Recepcionista: Olá, aqui é da clínica. Confirmando sua consulta amanhã às 10h.
Paciente: Sim, estarei lá amanhã.

Scenario: Talking about studies

Amigo: Você estudou para a prova?
Você: Estudei ontem, e hoje vou revisar.

Scenario: Making weekend plans

Amiga 1: Vamos sair hoje à noite?
Amiga 2: Melhor deixar para amanhã. Hoje estou cansada.

Quick Pronunciation Tips

hoje — pronounce the j like the English s in measure: oh-zhe.

amanhã — nasal ã sound; stress on the second syllable: ah-mah-NYAH.

ontem — nasal o and pronounced like ON-tem with a soft t: ON-tem.

Small Quiz to Test Yourself

Choose the correct word: I. ___ eu tenho prova. (today) II. ___ eu visitei minha família. (yesterday) III. ___ vamos ao cinema? (tomorrow)

Answers: I. Hoje II. Ontem III. Amanhã

Conclusion

Hoje, Amanhã, and Ontem are simple but powerful words that let you talk about everyday events in Brazilian Portuguese. Focus on matching the verb tense, using time-of-day words for clarity, and practicing short realistic phrases. With these basic patterns and examples, you can start using these words confidently in conversations, messages, and everyday situations.