Signification
Referring to the day before today
Contexte culturel
Thais often use 'เมื่อวาน' to refer to things that happened recently but not necessarily exactly yesterday in very casual storytelling, though it's technically incorrect. The concept of 'Yesterday' is a massive theme in Thai pop (T-Pop) and Luk Thung music, usually symbolizing regret or a love that hasn't faded. In Thai offices, 'เมื่อวาน' is used to politely follow up on tasks. 'ที่คุยกันเมื่อวาน...' (About what we discussed yesterday...) is a standard opener.
No Tense Needed
Don't stress about verb tenses. Just say 'เมื่อวาน' and use the base verb. Thai people will understand you perfectly.
Don't say 'Yesterday will'
Avoid using 'จะ' (will) with 'เมื่อวาน' unless you are an advanced speaker trying to say 'I was going to'.
Signification
Referring to the day before today
No Tense Needed
Don't stress about verb tenses. Just say 'เมื่อวาน' and use the base verb. Thai people will understand you perfectly.
Don't say 'Yesterday will'
Avoid using 'จะ' (will) with 'เมื่อวาน' unless you are an advanced speaker trying to say 'I was going to'.
Use 'มา' (ma)
Adding 'มา' at the end of a 'เมื่อวาน' sentence makes you sound very natural. e.g., 'ไปตลาดมา' (Went to the market and came back).
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the Thai word for 'yesterday'.
_______ ฉันไปกินข้าวกับเพื่อน (Yesterday I went to eat with friends.)
'เมื่อวาน' is the correct word for yesterday. 'วันนี้' is today and 'พรุ่งนี้' is tomorrow.
Which sentence is grammatically correct in Thai?
Talking about a past event:
Thai doesn't need a past tense verb, just the time marker 'เมื่อวาน'. Option A uses 'will' (จะ) which is wrong.
Complete the dialogue.
A: เมื่อวานคุณทำอะไร? B: ___________
The question asks about 'เมื่อวาน' (yesterday), so the answer should also use 'เมื่อวาน'.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Thai Time Basics
Time
- • เมื่อวาน (Yesterday)
- • วันนี้ (Today)
- • พรุ่งนี้ (Tomorrow)
Banque d exercices
3 exercices_______ ฉันไปกินข้าวกับเพื่อน (Yesterday I went to eat with friends.)
'เมื่อวาน' is the correct word for yesterday. 'วันนี้' is today and 'พรุ่งนี้' is tomorrow.
Talking about a past event:
Thai doesn't need a past tense verb, just the time marker 'เมื่อวาน'. Option A uses 'will' (จะ) which is wrong.
A: เมื่อวานคุณทำอะไร? B: ___________
The question asks about 'เมื่อวาน' (yesterday), so the answer should also use 'เมื่อวาน'.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsIt's neutral. You can use it with anyone. 'เมื่อวานนี้' is slightly more formal.
At the very beginning or the very end. Both are correct!
Only in very specific poetic contexts or some dialects. Stick to 'เมื่อวาน' for standard Thai.
Say 'เมื่อวานตอนเช้า' (muea-wan ton-chao).
Expressions liées
เมื่อวานซืน
builds onThe day before yesterday
เมื่อก่อน
similarBefore / In the past
วันนี้
contrastToday
พรุ่งนี้
contrastTomorrow
