Introduction
Learning the words for yesterday, today, and tomorrow is one of the first practical steps in Brazilian Portuguese. These simple time words appear in conversations, schedules, signs, and messages. This article explains how to say and use these words, offers common example sentences, highlights pronunciation tips, and points out beginner mistakes to avoid.
- Basic vocabulary: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
- Common phrases with ontem, hoje, amanhã
- Using ontem, hoje, amanhã in questions and negatives
- Time expressions that include ontem, hoje, amanhã
- Grammar notes for beginners
- Practical uses in everyday situations
- Beginner tips to remember these words
- Short listening and reading practice
- Conclusion
Basic vocabulary: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
The three core words you will learn are:
ontem — yesterday
hoje — today
amanhã — tomorrow
Pronunciation guide
Portuguese pronunciation can seem tricky at first. Here are simple phonetic hints for Brazilian Portuguese:
ontem: pronounced roughly OHn-chee or OHn-teh: the t before e sounds like ch in many Brazilian accents. So say OHN-tem or OHN-chee depending on region.
hoje: pronounced HO-zhee or HO-jee: initial h is silent, o is like the o in no, j sounds like s in measure.
amanhã: pronounced ah-ma-NYAH or ah-ma-NYAWH: the nh is like the Spanish ñ, a nasal sound; stress on the last syllable.
Common phrases with ontem, hoje, amanhã
Beginner learners should memorise useful phrases where these words appear naturally.
Ontem examples:
Ontem eu fui ao mercado.
Translation: Yesterday I went to the market.
O jogo foi ontem.
Translation: The game was yesterday.
Você viu o filme ontem?
Translation: Did you see the movie yesterday?
Hoje examples:
Hoje é segunda-feira.
Translation: Today is Monday.
Hoje eu trabalho até as 18h.
Translation: Today I work until 6 PM.
Você está livre hoje?
Translation: Are you free today?
Amanhã examples:
Amanhã eu tenho uma reunião.
Translation: Tomorrow I have a meeting.
Podemos nos ver amanhã?
Translation: Can we meet tomorrow?
O ônibus sai amanhã às 7h.
Translation: The bus leaves tomorrow at 7.
Using ontem, hoje, amanhã in questions and negatives
Forming questions and negatives is straightforward. Place the time word near the verb or at the beginning for emphasis.
Você foi ao parque ontem?
Translation: Did you go to the park yesterday?
Eu não posso hoje.
Translation: I cannot today.
Ela não vem amanhã.
Translation: She is not coming tomorrow.
Short common conversation example
Below is a realistic beginner-level interaction using the three words.
— Você pode falar agora?
— Não, posso só hoje à noite. Amanhã estou ocupado.
— E ontem? Você teve tempo ontem?
— Ontem eu estudei a tarde.
Time expressions that include ontem, hoje, amanhã
Brazilian Portuguese uses a few compound expressions that are useful:
ontem à noite — last night
hoje de manhã — this morning
hoje à tarde — this afternoon
amanhã de manhã — tomorrow morning
amanhã à noite — tomorrow night
Examples:
Ontem à noite estava chovendo.
Translation: Last night it was raining.
Hoje de manhã tomei café.
Translation: This morning I had coffee.
Amanhã à noite tem uma festa.
Translation: There is a party tomorrow night.
Grammar notes for beginners
These words are adverbs of time and do not change for gender or number. You do not add articles to them. They usually appear near the verb but can be moved for emphasis.
Compare placement:
Eu viajei ontem.
Translation: I traveled yesterday.
Ontem eu viajei.
Translation: Yesterday I traveled. (emphasis on when)
Common verbs used with time words
Here are frequent verbs you will see in beginner contexts: ir, estar, ter, fazer, ver, chegar, sair, trabalhar, estudar.
Examples:
Eu fui ao médico ontem.
Translation: I went to the doctor yesterday.
Hoje estou cansado.
Translation: Today I am tired.
Ela vai viajar amanhã.
Translation: She will travel tomorrow.
Practical uses in everyday situations
These time words appear in schedules, menus, messages, and at service counters. Below are realistic examples you might encounter or use.
On a bus schedule: Saída amanhã às 9h.
Translation: Departure tomorrow at 9 AM.
In a restaurant note: Hoje especial: feijoada.
Translation: Today’s special: feijoada.
In a text message: Chego aí daqui a pouco, estou saindo agora, volto amanhã.
Translation: I’ll be there soon, leaving now, back tomorrow.
Short role-play situations
At a pharmacy:
Cliente: Você abre amanhã?
Atendente: Sim, abrimos às 8h.
Translation: Customer: Are you open tomorrow? Clerk: Yes, we open at 8.
At work:
Chefe: Você terminou o relatório ontem?
Funcionário: Sim, terminei ontem à noite.
Translation: Boss: Did you finish the report yesterday? Employee: Yes, I finished last night.
Beginner tips to remember these words
1. Pair words with actions: link ontem to past activities you actually did, hoje to your current routine, and amanhã to plans.
2. Use a daily diary: write one sentence a day using ontem, hoje, or amanhã.
3. Learn time-of-day phrases with these words so you can speak about mornings and evenings naturally.
4. Listen and repeat: short audio clips or language apps help with the tricky pronunciation of ontem and amanhã.
Common beginner mistakes and how to fix them
Mistake: Pronouncing the nh in amanhã as two separate sounds. Fix: Practice the nasal palatal sound like Spanish ñ: say ma-NYA.
Mistake: Treating these words like nouns and changing them. Fix: Remember they are adverbs and remain unchanged.
Mistake: Placing them far from the verb and causing confusion. Fix: Keep the time word close to the verb or at the start of the sentence for clarity.
Short listening and reading practice
Read aloud these beginner sentences and try to understand without translating word-for-word.
Ontem eu comi em um restaurante novo.
Hoje vou caminhar no parque.
Amanhã tenho uma aula de português.
Practice activity
Try writing three short messages you might send to a friend: one about yesterday, one about today, and one about tomorrow. Use at least one time-of-day phrase with each.
Example answer you can compare to: Ontem à noite fui ao cinema. Hoje de manhã acordei cedo. Amanhã de tarde vou ao supermercado.
Conclusion
Learning ontem, hoje, and amanhã is essential for daily communication in Brazilian Portuguese. With clear pronunciation tips, useful phrases, and practical examples for questions, negatives, schedules, and messages, beginners can start using these words right away. Practice short sentences, listen to native speech, and apply the words in real situations to build confidence quickly.
