Ontem.
Yesterday.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Ontem is the essential Portuguese word for 'yesterday,' used to anchor any past event to the previous day.
- Means: The day immediately preceding today.
- Used in: Casual stories, scheduling, and reporting past actions.
- Don't confuse: With 'amanhã' (tomorrow) or 'hoje' (today).
Explanation at your level:
意味
Refers to the day before the current day.
文化的背景
Brazilians often use 'ontem' to emphasize how fast time flies, especially in the phrase 'Parece que foi ontem'. In Portugal, 'ontem' is a staple in fado lyrics, representing the 'saudade' of a time that has passed. The distinction between 'ontem' and 'anteontem' is very sharp; speakers rarely say 'two days ago' when 'anteontem' exists.
Pair with Past Tense
Always check your verb! If you say 'ontem', your verb must be in a past form.
No 'The'
Don't say 'O ontem' unless you are being poetic. Just say 'Ontem'.
意味
Refers to the day before the current day.
Pair with Past Tense
Always check your verb! If you say 'ontem', your verb must be in a past form.
No 'The'
Don't say 'O ontem' unless you are being poetic. Just say 'Ontem'.
自分をテスト
Complete the sentence with the correct word for 'yesterday'.
Eu fui ao cinema ______.
Since 'fui' is past tense, 'ontem' is the only logical choice.
Which phrase means 'Yesterday morning'?
Como se diz 'Yesterday morning'?
'De manhã' means morning, and 'ontem' means yesterday.
Fill in the response.
A: Você estudou para a prova? B: Sim, eu estudei ______.
The speaker is confirming they already studied.
Match the time to the word.
O dia antes de hoje é...
Ontem is the day before today.
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よくある質問
3 問It is understood, but 'ontem à noite' is much more natural and grammatically correct.
Yes, it is identical in both countries.
Use the word 'anteontem'.
関連フレーズ
Anteontem
builds onThe day before yesterday.
Ontem à noite
specialized formLast night.
Hoje
contrastToday.
どこで使う？
Reporting a task
Boss: Você terminou o relatório?
Employee: Sim, eu terminei ontem à tarde.
Socializing
Amigo 1: A festa foi boa?
Amigo 2: Foi ótima! Ontem eu dancei muito.
At the Doctor
Médico: Quando a dor começou?
Paciente: Começou ontem de manhã.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'On-Time'. If you weren't 'On-Time' today, you have to explain what happened 'Ontem'.
Visual Association
Imagine a calendar page being ripped off and flying behind you into a dark night (ad noctem).
Rhyme
Ontem eu vi o homem.
Story
I woke up today and realized I forgot my keys. I remembered I had them 'ontem' when I was at the cafe. I went back to 'ontem' in my mind to find them.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Write three things you did yesterday using 'Ontem eu...' and post them in a language forum.
In Other Languages
Ayer
The phonetic root is different (Night vs. Yesterday).
Hier
French requires 'hier soir' for last night, similar to 'ontem à noite'.
Gestern
German often places 'gestern' in the third position of the sentence due to V2 word order.
昨日 (Kinou)
Japanese doesn't use prepositions like 'à' for 'yesterday morning'.
أمس (Ams)
In formal Arabic, it is 'al-ams', using the definite article.
Easily Confused
Learners often swap 'yesterday' and 'tomorrow'.
Remember 'A' for 'Amanhã' is 'Ahead'.
Both refer to the past.
Ontem is exactly 24 hours ago; Antigamente is 'in the old days'.
よくある質問 (3)
It is understood, but 'ontem à noite' is much more natural and grammatically correct.
Yes, it is identical in both countries.
Use the word 'anteontem'.
