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pasado mañana

A2 phrase #5,000 most common 16 min read

pasado mañana

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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips pasado mañana in 30 Seconds

Explanation pasado mañana in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners focus on basic survival Spanish. 'Pasado mañana' is introduced as a fixed phrase. Students learn it alongside 'hoy' (today) and 'mañana' (tomorrow) to form a simple timeline of three days. The focus is on memorizing the phrase as a single unit without necessarily analyzing the grammar of 'pasado'. At this stage, learners use it in very simple sentences like 'Tengo clase pasado mañana' (I have class the day after tomorrow). The goal is to understand the concept of 48 hours into the future and to be able to recognize the phrase when heard in a simple conversation about schedules or appointments. Teachers often use calendars to visually demonstrate the jump from today to tomorrow to the day after tomorrow. It is one of the first multi-word time expressions a student learns, providing a vital tool for making basic plans. The main challenge for A1 students is avoiding the inclusion of the English-influenced 'el' or 'en' before the phrase. Constant repetition and simple substitution drills (e.g., 'Voy al parque hoy / mañana / pasado mañana') are the primary methods for mastery at this level. By the end of A1, a student should be able to answer the question '¿Cuándo?' (When?) with this phrase correctly.

At the A2 level, students begin to integrate 'pasado mañana' into more complex sentence structures. They start using it with the 'Ir + a + Infinitive' future construction (e.g., 'Voy a viajar pasado mañana'). This level also introduces the distinction between 'mañana' as 'tomorrow' and 'la mañana' as 'the morning', and students learn to combine them into 'pasado mañana por la mañana'. The A2 learner is expected to use the phrase in a wider variety of contexts, such as describing a short-term itinerary or making social arrangements with friends. They also learn the opposite term, 'anteayer' (the day before yesterday), to complete their basic temporal range. Grammar instruction at this level might briefly touch on 'pasado' as a past participle used here as an adjective/preposition, though the phrase is still largely treated as an adverbial block. Learners are encouraged to use 'pasado mañana' instead of the more cumbersome 'el día después de mañana'. Exercises often involve looking at a calendar and identifying which day 'pasado mañana' falls on based on a given 'today'. This builds the mental agility required for real-time conversation. A2 students should also be able to use the phrase in simple questions to confirm plans, showing an increasing comfort with the rhythm and placement of the phrase in Spanish syntax.

At the B1 level, 'pasado mañana' is used with a wider range of tenses, including the Future Simple and the Present Subjunctive in time clauses. For instance, a B1 student might say, 'Espero que no llueva pasado mañana' (I hope it doesn't rain the day after tomorrow). The focus shifts from just knowing the meaning to using the phrase naturally within more complex narratives. B1 learners are expected to understand the nuance of using the present indicative for future events (e.g., 'El tren sale pasado mañana') and how 'pasado mañana' reinforces that sense of certainty. They also begin to encounter the phrase in more formal settings, such as business emails or news reports, and are expected to distinguish it from 'dentro de dos días'. At this level, students also learn to use 'pasado mañana' in conditional sentences ('Si terminamos el proyecto pasado mañana, tendremos el fin de semana libre'). The phrase becomes a tool for expressing logical sequences and dependencies. Learners are also introduced to regional variations in pronunciation, such as the dropped 'd' in 'pasao', and are taught to recognize these in listening exercises. The goal for B1 is fluid integration into spontaneous speech, moving away from the 'translated' feel of earlier levels.

At the B2 level, the learner has a sophisticated grasp of 'pasado mañana' and can use it in highly nuanced ways. They understand its role in discourse markers and how it can be used to set a scene in a story or a professional presentation. B2 students can effortlessly switch between 'pasado mañana', 'el [día]', and 'dentro de dos días' depending on the register and the need for precision. They are comfortable using the phrase in the 'Future Perfect' or 'Conditional' tenses to discuss hypothetical scenarios (e.g., 'Para pasado mañana, ya habremos terminado el trabajo'). This level also explores the phrase's use in idiomatic expressions or as part of a larger temporal framework in literature. The B2 learner can explain the grammatical logic of the phrase to others and is acutely aware of the 'anglicism' of saying 'el día después de mañana', avoiding it entirely. They can also use 'pasado mañana' in complex sentences involving multiple time markers, maintaining correct syntax and clarity. The focus is on 'native-like' speed and the ability to use the phrase in high-stakes environments, such as negotiations or academic debates, where precise timing is essential. The B2 student also begins to appreciate the cultural aspect of time in Spanish-speaking countries, where 'pasado mañana' might sometimes be used more flexibly than a strict 48-hour deadline.

At the C1 level, 'pasado mañana' is a tool for stylistic expression. The learner uses it with complete spontaneity and can play with its placement for emphasis or rhetorical effect. C1 students explore the historical etymology of the phrase and its relationship to other temporal adverbs across different Romance languages. They can analyze how 'pasado mañana' functions in complex literary texts, such as those by Gabriel García Márquez or Isabel Allende, where time is often fluid. At this level, the learner is also aware of very rare or archaic variations like 'trasmañana' and knows when they might be used for stylistic purposes (e.g., in historical fiction). The C1 student can handle 'pasado mañana' in any grammatical environment, including the most complex subjunctive constructions and reported speech (e.g., 'Me dijo que vendría el pasado mañana de aquel entonces', though usually changed to 'dos días después' in reported speech, the C1 learner knows how to navigate these shifts). The focus is on total mastery and the ability to use the phrase to convey subtle shades of meaning, such as irony or impatience. They also understand the socio-linguistic implications of using the phrase in different Spanish-speaking regions and can adapt their speech accordingly.

At the C2 level, the learner's command of 'pasado mañana' is indistinguishable from that of an educated native speaker. They possess a deep, intuitive understanding of the phrase's rhythmic and structural role in the Spanish language. A C2 learner can use 'pasado mañana' in the context of advanced philological discussions, explaining its evolution from Latin roots. They are capable of using the phrase in the most formal academic writing or the most informal slang-heavy conversations with equal ease. The C2 student also understands the philosophical implications of time-telling in Spanish and can discuss how phrases like 'pasado mañana' reflect a specific cultural worldview. They can detect and analyze the most subtle nuances in how the phrase is used across the entire Spanish-speaking world, from the Southern Cone to the Iberian Peninsula. Mastery at this level means the phrase is no longer a 'vocabulary item' but a fundamental part of the learner's linguistic identity in Spanish. They can use it to create complex puns, metaphors, and wordplay. The C2 learner is also a master of the 'tempo' of Spanish conversation, using 'pasado mañana' as a beat in the natural music of the language. There is no aspect of the phrase—grammatical, cultural, or historical—that is unfamiliar to them.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

pasado mañana in 30 Seconds

Pasado mañana translates to 'the day after tomorrow' and is a vital phrase for scheduling near-future events in Spanish.
It is a standalone adverbial phrase, meaning you should never use 'el' or 'en' before it in a sentence.
The phrase is composed of 'pasado' (passed/after) and 'mañana' (tomorrow), literally meaning 'the day once tomorrow has passed'.
It is extremely common in both formal and informal Spanish, used for everything from doctor appointments to social hangouts.

The Spanish phrase pasado mañana is a temporal adverbial expression that translates directly to 'the day after tomorrow' in English. This phrase is a cornerstone of daily communication in Spanish-speaking cultures, serving as a vital tool for scheduling, planning, and discussing the immediate future. Unlike English, which once possessed the word 'overmorrow' (now archaic), Spanish relies on this compound construction to bridge the gap between 'tomorrow' and the more distant future. The phrase is composed of two distinct parts: pasado, the past participle of the verb pasar (to pass), and mañana, which functions here as a noun meaning 'tomorrow'. Together, they literally signify the day that exists once tomorrow has passed. This logical construction makes it exceptionally easy for learners to grasp, yet its usage nuances are what truly define a speaker's fluency.

Core Concept: Temporal navigation specifically targeting the 48-hour mark from the present moment.

In Spanish-speaking societies, where social life and professional appointments are often fluid, pasado mañana provides a concrete anchor. It is used frequently in business to set deadlines, in healthcare to schedule follow-up appointments, and in social circles to finalize weekend plans. Its frequency in speech is significantly higher than its English counterpart because it feels less 'clunky' than saying 'the day after tomorrow' repeatedly. It is a single rhythmic unit. When you use this phrase, you are indicating a specific level of certainty about a future event that is not quite 'tomorrow' (which might feel too rushed) but not so far away that it becomes vague. It occupies the 'Goldilocks zone' of planning.

Tenemos una reunión importante pasado mañana a las diez.

Historically, the concept of time in the Hispanic world has been viewed through a lens of relational proximity. Pasado mañana sits perfectly in this hierarchy: hoy (today), mañana (tomorrow), pasado mañana (the day after tomorrow), and then dentro de tres días (in three days). Interestingly, there isn't a widely used single-word equivalent for 'the day after the day after tomorrow' in modern standard Spanish, though some regional dialects might use traspasado mañana, though this is rare and often considered non-standard or archaic. Thus, pasado mañana is the furthest specific day-relative term used in standard conversation before one switches to counting days or naming the specific day of the week.

Grammatical Function: It functions as an adverb of time, modifying the verb to indicate when an action will occur.

Furthermore, the emotional weight of pasado mañana can vary. In a professional context, it implies a looming deadline that requires immediate preparation. In a casual context, it suggests an upcoming event that is close enough to be excited about but far enough away to still have time for anticipation. Understanding this phrase is not just about knowing a calendar date; it is about understanding the pace of life in Spanish-speaking countries. It is the bridge between the immediate present and the upcoming week. For an English speaker, mastering this phrase involves breaking the habit of using longer prepositional phrases and embracing the efficiency of this two-word powerhouse.

¿Podemos posponer nuestra cita para pasado mañana?

Regional Usage: While universal, some speakers in the Caribbean might shorten the pronunciation of 'pasado' to 'pasao', though the meaning remains identical.

To conclude this overview, pasado mañana is more than a translation; it is a linguistic tool that reflects how Spanish speakers segment the future. It is precise, efficient, and ubiquitous. Whether you are ordering a delivery, planning a date, or scheduling a flight, this phrase will be your constant companion in navigating the Spanish temporal landscape. Its simplicity belies its importance, and its correct usage is a hallmark of a learner moving from basic A1 survival Spanish into the more nuanced world of A2 and B1 fluency.

Integrating pasado mañana into your Spanish sentences requires an understanding of syntax and verb tense coordination. Unlike English, where 'the day after tomorrow' often feels heavy at the start of a sentence, pasado mañana is incredibly versatile and can be placed at the beginning, the end, or occasionally in the middle of a clause. The most common placement is at the end of the sentence to provide the temporal context after the action has been stated. However, placing it at the beginning adds emphasis to the timing, which is useful when correcting someone or highlighting a change in plans.

Tense Compatibility: Typically used with the Future Simple (iré), the 'Ir + a + Infinitive' construction (voy a ir), or the Present Indicative used as a future (voy).

One of the most important grammatical rules to remember is that pasado mañana does not require a preposition like 'en' (in) or 'el' (the). In English, we say 'on the day after tomorrow' or simply 'the day after tomorrow.' In Spanish, adding 'en' or 'el' is a common mistake for English speakers. You should treat it as a standalone adverbial unit. For example, 'I will see you the day after tomorrow' becomes 'Te veré pasado mañana.' This lack of prepositional baggage makes the sentence flow much faster in Spanish than in English.

Pasado mañana es el cumpleaños de mi abuela y todavía no tengo regalo.

When using pasado mañana with specific times, the time usually follows the phrase, connected by the preposition 'a'. For instance, 'the day after tomorrow at 5 PM' would be 'pasado mañana a las cinco de la tarde'. This structure is very consistent. If you want to specify a part of that day, such as the morning or the evening, you would say 'pasado mañana por la mañana' or 'pasado mañana por la noche'. Notice how 'mañana' appears twice in the first example—once meaning 'tomorrow' (as part of the phrase) and once meaning 'morning'. This can be a bit of a tongue-twister for beginners, but it is perfectly natural for native speakers.

Sentence Structure: [Subject] + [Verb] + [Object] + pasado mañana OR Pasado mañana + [Verb] + [Subject] + [Object].

Another advanced way to use pasado mañana is in conditional or hypothetical sentences. For example, 'If it doesn't rain the day after tomorrow, we will go to the beach' translates to 'Si no llueve pasado mañana, iremos a la playa.' Here, the phrase provides the temporal boundary for the condition. It can also be used in questions to confirm schedules: '¿Vienes pasado mañana?' (Are you coming the day after tomorrow?). In this context, the present tense 'vienes' is used to express a near-future action with high certainty, a very common feature of conversational Spanish.

¿Crees que el paquete llegará pasado mañana?

Negation: To say 'not the day after tomorrow', you simply add 'no' before the phrase or before the verb: 'No vendré pasado mañana'.

Finally, consider the rhythm of the phrase. In Spanish, vowels are short and clear. 'Pa-sa-do ma-ña-na'. The stress falls on the penultimate syllable of each word: pa-SA-do ma-ÑA-na. Mastering this rhythm will help you integrate the phrase seamlessly into your speech without pausing to think about the translation. Practice saying it as a single block of sound. By the time you reach the end of this lesson, you should be able to slot pasado mañana into any future-oriented sentence with the same ease as you would use 'tomorrow' or 'next week'. It is a fundamental building block of Spanish fluency.

In the real world, pasado mañana is heard everywhere from the bustling markets of Mexico City to the corporate offices of Madrid. Its primary habitat is in the realm of logistics and social planning. If you are traveling through a Spanish-speaking country, you will hear it most frequently at transportation hubs. A bus driver might tell you that the next direct service to a remote village doesn't leave until pasado mañana. In this context, the phrase is vital for survival and itinerary planning. It forces you to adjust your expectations and perhaps find a hotel for two more nights.

Travel & Logistics: Used for bus schedules, flight delays, and hotel check-out confirmations.

Another common setting is the domestic sphere. Families use pasado mañana to coordinate chores, meals, and visits. A mother might tell her children, 'Vamos a visitar a los tíos pasado mañana' (We are going to visit your aunt and uncle the day after tomorrow). In the kitchen, it's used to discuss food preparation: 'Este guiso estará mejor pasado mañana' (This stew will be better the day after tomorrow). This highlights the phrase's utility in describing processes that take time to mature or complete. It is a word of patience and anticipation.

El fontanero dijo que vendría a arreglar el grifo pasado mañana.

In the professional world, pasado mañana is the language of deadlines. In an office, you might hear a manager say, 'Necesito el informe para pasado mañana sin falta' (I need the report by the day after tomorrow without fail). Here, the phrase carries a sense of urgency. It is the 'soon but not immediate' deadline. In news broadcasts, weather forecasters frequently use it to predict shifts in the climate: 'Pasado mañana entrará un frente frío' (The day after tomorrow, a cold front will move in). For a learner, listening for this phrase in weather reports is an excellent way to practice hearing it in a structured, clear context.

Medical & Appointments: Doctors use it to schedule blood tests or follow-ups: 'Vuelva pasado mañana para los resultados'.

Social media and texting are also full of this phrase. Because it is relatively short and very clear, it is preferred over writing out the specific date (like 'el 15 de marzo'). In a WhatsApp group, you might see '¿Quedamos pasado mañana?' as a quick way to suggest a meetup. The phrase is informal enough for friends but formal enough for clients. Its universality is its greatest strength. You will also find it in literature and song lyrics, often used to create a sense of longing or to set a scene in the near future. It is a word that anchors the narrative in a very specific, relatable timeframe.

La preventa de las entradas comienza pasado mañana a mediodía.

Media Usage: In TV guides or event promotions, it is used to build anticipation for upcoming episodes or shows.

In summary, you will hear pasado mañana in any situation involving a timeline. It is not a 'book word' that you only see in dictionaries; it is a living, breathing part of the Spanish language. Whether it's a warning about a storm, a promise of a visit, or a deadline for a project, pasado mañana is the phrase that tells you exactly how much time you have left. Paying attention to it in movies, podcasts, and real-life conversations will rapidly improve your ability to navigate time in Spanish.

For English speakers, the most frequent pitfall when using pasado mañana is the tendency to over-translate the English structure. In English, we often say 'on the day after tomorrow' or 'the day after tomorrow'. This leads many students to say 'en el pasado mañana' or 'el pasado mañana'. Both are grammatically incorrect in Spanish. The phrase is an adverbial expression that stands alone. You do not need the definite article 'el' or the preposition 'en'. Just as you wouldn't say 'on tomorrow' in English, you don't use 'en' with pasado mañana. This is a hard habit to break, but it is the quickest way to sound more like a native speaker.

Mistake #1: Adding Articles: Incorrect: *El pasado mañana voy al cine. Correct: Pasado mañana voy al cine.

Another common error involves the confusion between 'mañana' (tomorrow) and 'la mañana' (the morning). Because pasado mañana contains the word 'mañana', some learners mistakenly think it means 'the past morning' or 'yesterday morning'. This is a complete misunderstanding of the phrase. To say 'yesterday morning', you would use 'ayer por la mañana'. Remembering that pasado mañana always points toward the future is crucial. The word pasado here doesn't mean 'in the past' in a general sense; it means 'once [tomorrow] has passed'. If you find yourself confusing it with yesterday, try to visualize a timeline where you have to 'pass' tomorrow to get to your destination.

No digas el día después de mañana; suena muy literal y poco natural en español.

A third mistake is using the literal translation of the English phrase 'the day after tomorrow', which is 'el día después de mañana'. While a Spanish speaker will certainly understand you, it sounds incredibly clunky and 'gringo'. It's the linguistic equivalent of saying 'the day that follows the day that is after today'. Why use five words when two will do? Native speakers almost exclusively use pasado mañana. The only time you might see 'el día después de...' is in very specific technical writing or perhaps a movie title (like 'The Day After Tomorrow', which was translated as 'El día de mañana' or 'El día después de mañana' depending on the region), but in speech, it's a clear marker of a non-native speaker.

Mistake #2: Preposition Overuse: Incorrect: *Para pasado mañana. (Unless you mean 'BY the day after tomorrow'). Correct: Pasado mañana.

Mispronunciation can also lead to confusion. If you don't emphasize the 'ñ' in mañana, it can sound like 'manana', which isn't a word. The 'ñ' sound is essential. Also, ensure the 'o' at the end of pasado is a pure 'o' sound, not a diphthong like the English 'oh'. If you say 'pasadou maniana', you will be understood, but it breaks the flow of the sentence. Finally, be careful with the word order when adding other time markers. Saying 'pasado mañana a las tres' is correct, but '*a las tres pasado mañana' is much less common and can sound slightly disjointed in many dialects.

Error común: Confundir pasado mañana con ayer por la mañana.

Tense Mismatch: Avoid using the past tense with this phrase. You cannot say *'Fui pasado mañana'. It must be future-oriented.

Lastly, some learners try to pluralize it when referring to multiple 'day-after-tomorrows' in a recurring schedule. This is not possible. You cannot say 'los pasados mañanas'. If you want to say 'every day after tomorrow' (which is logically strange but maybe you mean 'every two days'), you would use a different construction like 'cada dos días'. Keeping pasado mañana as an invariable adverbial phrase will save you from most of these grammatical headaches. Practice the phrase in isolation first, then slowly build it into larger sentences until it feels as natural as 'tomorrow'.

While pasado mañana is the standard way to express 'the day after tomorrow', there are several alternatives and related terms that can add variety and precision to your Spanish. The most direct synonym is the phrase dentro de dos días (in two days). This is slightly more mathematical and is often used when the exact number of days is more important than the relative position to today. For example, in a medical prescription, a doctor might say 'tome esta medicina dentro de dos días' to emphasize the 48-hour gap. It is also used when counting from a point in the future rather than from right now.

Comparison: Relative vs. Absolute: 'Pasado mañana' is relative to today. 'El jueves' (if today is Tuesday) is absolute.

Another alternative is simply using the name of the day of the week. If today is Monday, pasado mañana is Wednesday. Saying 'el miércoles' is often more specific and leaves less room for error, especially in professional environments. However, pasado mañana is often preferred in casual conversation because it doesn't require the speaker or listener to calculate what day of the week it is. It's an immediate 'mental jump'. In some regions, you might hear el día que sigue a mañana, but as discussed in the common mistakes section, this is wordy and generally avoided in favor of the shorter phrase.

¿Prefieres quedar el viernes o pasado mañana?

On the opposite side of the spectrum, we have anteayer or antes de ayer, which mean 'the day before yesterday'. These are the logical counterparts to pasado mañana. Just as pasado mañana looks forward two days, anteayer looks back two days. Learning these as a pair is highly effective for building a robust 'temporal map' in your mind. If you want to go even further into the future, you have to use the dentro de... construction, such as dentro de tres días (in three days) or dentro de una semana (in a week). There is no common standard word for 'three days from now' like there is for 'two days from now'.

Regional Variation: Trasmañana: In some rural parts of Spain and Latin America, 'trasmañana' might be used, but it is largely obsolete.

In more formal or literary contexts, you might encounter en la jornada subsiguiente a la de mañana, but this is extremely rare and only used for specific stylistic effects. For the vast majority of your Spanish-speaking life, pasado mañana will be your go-to phrase. It is helpful to compare it to mañana mismo (tomorrow itself/first thing tomorrow), which emphasizes the immediacy of tomorrow. Pasado mañana, by contrast, provides a little more breathing room. Understanding these subtle differences in 'temporal urgency' will help you choose the right word for the right situation.

Si hoy es martes, pasado mañana es jueves.

Word Comparison

Pasado mañana: Casual, common, relative.
Dentro de dos días: Precise, formal, mathematical.
El [Día]: Specific, unambiguous, requires calendar knowledge.

To wrap up, while pasado mañana is the king of its domain, knowing when to use dentro de dos días or the specific day of the week will make your Spanish sound more sophisticated and adaptable. Each of these terms has its place in the rich tapestry of Spanish time-telling. By mastering pasado mañana first, you lay the foundation for a complete understanding of how to navigate the days ahead in your new language.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The English word for 'pasado mañana' is 'overmorrow', which originated from Middle English but fell out of use in the 16th century. Spanish kept its version, while English speakers now have to use four words.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /paˈsaðo maˈɲana/

US /pɑˈsɑðoʊ mɑˈnjɑnɑ/

The stress is on the second syllable of 'pasado' (pa-SA-do) and the second syllable of 'mañana' (ma-ÑA-na).

Rhymes With

asado casado llamada semana ventana campana mañana humana

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'ñ' as a simple 'n' (manana instead of mañana).
Using a hard English 'd' in 'pasado'.
Adding a 'y' sound before 'mañana'.
Stress on the first or last syllable.
Aspirating the 'p' at the beginning.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text.

Writing 2/5

Easy, but students must remember not to add 'el' or 'en'.

Speaking 2/5

Requires practice with the 'ñ' sound and the rhythm.

Listening 1/5

Clear and distinct in most dialects.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

hoy mañana ayer día pasar

Learn Next

anteayer la semana que viene dentro de hace próximo

Advanced

víspera jornada porvenir antaño hogaño

Grammar to Know

Future with Present Indicative

Llego pasado mañana (I arrive the day after tomorrow).

Ir + a + Infinitive

Voy a estudiar pasado mañana.

Subjunctive for future doubt

No creo que venga pasado mañana.

Adverbial placement

Pasado mañana iré / Iré pasado mañana.

Temporal Prepositions with specific times

Pasado mañana a las cuatro.

Examples by Level

Tengo un examen pasado mañana.

I have an exam the day after tomorrow.

Simple present 'tengo' used for a scheduled event.

Pasado mañana es miércoles.

The day after tomorrow is Wednesday.

Using 'ser' to identify the day.

¿Vienes a mi casa pasado mañana?

Are you coming to my house the day after tomorrow?

Question form using the present tense for future.

No trabajo pasado mañana.

I don't work the day after tomorrow.

Negative sentence structure.

La fiesta es pasado mañana.

The party is the day after tomorrow.

Noun + ser + temporal adverb.

Pasado mañana voy al cine.

The day after tomorrow I am going to the cinema.

Ir + a + destination.

Mi hermano llega pasado mañana.

My brother arrives the day after tomorrow.

Subject + verb + adverb.

Pasado mañana compro el pan.

The day after tomorrow I will buy the bread.

Present tense used for future intention.

Voy a comprar los billetes pasado mañana.

I am going to buy the tickets the day after tomorrow.

Ir + a + infinitive construction.

Pasado mañana por la mañana tenemos una cita.

The day after tomorrow in the morning we have an appointment.

Combining 'pasado mañana' with 'por la mañana'.

El paquete llegará pasado mañana.

The package will arrive the day after tomorrow.

Future simple tense 'llegará'.

Pasado mañana podemos ir a la playa.

The day after tomorrow we can go to the beach.

Using the modal verb 'poder'.

Creo que pasado mañana lloverá.

I think it will rain the day after tomorrow.

Expressing opinion with 'creo que'.

¿Qué vas a hacer pasado mañana?

What are you going to do the day after tomorrow?

Information question with 'qué'.

Pasado mañana es el último día de clase.

The day after tomorrow is the last day of class.

Noun phrase as subject.

Queremos visitar el museo pasado mañana.

We want to visit the museum the day after tomorrow.

Verb 'querer' + infinitive.

Si terminas hoy, podremos descansar pasado mañana.

If you finish today, we will be able to rest the day after tomorrow.

First conditional: Si + present, future.

Dudo que el mecánico termine el coche para pasado mañana.

I doubt the mechanic will finish the car by the day after tomorrow.

Subjunctive after 'dudo que'.

Pasado mañana habrán pasado dos semanas desde su partida.

The day after tomorrow, two weeks will have passed since their departure.

Future perfect tense 'habrán pasado'.

Me gustaría que nos viéramos pasado mañana.

I would like us to see each other the day after tomorrow.

Imperfect subjunctive after 'me gustaría que'.

Pasado mañana se celebra el festival anual.

The annual festival is celebrated the day after tomorrow.

Passive 'se' construction.

No creo que pasado mañana sea un buen día para viajar.

I don't think the day after tomorrow will be a good day to travel.

Subjunctive after 'no creo que'.

Pasado mañana ya habré leído todo el libro.

The day after tomorrow I will have already read the whole book.

Future perfect for completed future action.

Asegúrate de enviar el correo pasado mañana sin falta.

Make sure to send the email the day after tomorrow without fail.

Imperative 'asegúrate' + infinitive.

Pasado mañana se cumplirán las condiciones del contrato.

The day after tomorrow the contract conditions will be met.

Reflexive future 'se cumplirán'.

A menos que ocurra algo imprevisto, nos vemos pasado mañana.

Unless something unforeseen happens, we'll see each other the day after tomorrow.

Subjunctive after 'a menos que'.

Pasado mañana habremos analizado todos los datos de la encuesta.

The day after tomorrow we will have analyzed all the survey data.

Future perfect with collective subject.

Sería ideal que el informe estuviera listo pasado mañana.

It would be ideal if the report were ready the day after tomorrow.

Conditional + imperfect subjunctive.

Pasado mañana, la bolsa reaccionará a las nuevas medidas.

The day after tomorrow, the stock market will react to the new measures.

Future simple in a financial context.

No importa lo que pase hoy, pasado mañana será otro día.

No matter what happens today, the day after tomorrow will be another day.

Concessive clause with 'no importa lo que'.

Pasado mañana se darán a conocer los resultados finales.

The final results will be made known the day after tomorrow.

Passive 'se' with future tense.

Si hubiéramos salido ayer, llegaríamos pasado mañana.

If we had left yesterday, we would arrive the day after tomorrow.

Mixed conditional: hubiéramos (past) -> llegaríamos (future relative).

Pasado mañana, el destino habrá dictado su sentencia definitiva.

The day after tomorrow, fate will have dictated its final sentence.

Literary use of future perfect.

Resulta imperativo que la entrega se efectúe pasado mañana.

It is imperative that the delivery take place the day after tomorrow.

Formal 'resulta imperativo' + subjunctive.

Pasado mañana se conmemora el centenario del nacimiento del autor.

The centenary of the author's birth is commemorated the day after tomorrow.

Formal verb 'conmemorar'.

Dada la situación, pasado mañana evaluaremos la viabilidad del proyecto.

Given the situation, the day after tomorrow we will evaluate the project's viability.

Absolute construction 'Dada la situación'.

Pasado mañana, el solsticio marcará el inicio de una nueva era.

The day after tomorrow, the solstice will mark the beginning of a new era.

Poetic/Academic future.

No es sino hasta pasado mañana que podremos obtener una respuesta clara.

It is not until the day after tomorrow that we will be able to get a clear answer.

Emphasis construction 'No es sino hasta'.

Pasado mañana, los ecos de esta decisión resonarán en todo el país.

The day after tomorrow, the echoes of this decision will resonate throughout the country.

Metaphorical future.

Si bien hoy parece lejano, pasado mañana ya será parte de nuestra historia.

While today it seems far off, the day after tomorrow it will already be part of our history.

Concessive 'Si bien'.

Pasado mañana, el devenir de los acontecimientos revelará la verdad oculta.

The day after tomorrow, the unfolding of events will reveal the hidden truth.

Philosophical use of 'el devenir'.

Cabe esperar que pasado mañana se diluciden las dudas persistentes.

It is to be expected that the day after tomorrow the persistent doubts will be elucidated.

Formal 'Cabe esperar que' + subjunctive.

Pasado mañana, la efímera naturaleza del tiempo nos recordará nuestra finitud.

The day after tomorrow, the ephemeral nature of time will remind us of our finiteness.

Highly literary/Philosophical style.

No cabe duda de que pasado mañana asistiremos a un cambio de paradigma.

There is no doubt that the day after tomorrow we will witness a paradigm shift.

Formal 'No cabe duda de que'.

Pasado mañana, el tejido de la realidad se verá alterado por este suceso.

The day after tomorrow, the fabric of reality will be altered by this event.

Metaphorical use of 'tejido de la realidad'.

Será pasado mañana cuando, por fin, se descorra el velo del misterio.

It will be the day after tomorrow when, at last, the veil of mystery is drawn back.

Cleft sentence for emphasis.

Pasado mañana, la impronta de sus actos será indeleble en la memoria colectiva.

The day after tomorrow, the imprint of their acts will be indelible in the collective memory.

Formal/Poetic vocabulary.

Pese a las dilaciones, pasado mañana se alcanzará el clímax de la narrativa.

Despite the delays, the day after tomorrow the climax of the narrative will be reached.

Formal 'Pese a' + noun phrase.

Common Collocations

pasado mañana por la mañana

pasado mañana por la tarde

pasado mañana por la noche

para pasado mañana

hasta pasado mañana

desde pasado mañana

pasado mañana sin falta

pasado mañana mismo

justo pasado mañana

ser pasado mañana

Common Phrases

Nos vemos pasado mañana.

— A standard way to say goodbye when you have plans for the day after tomorrow.

¡Adiós! Nos vemos pasado mañana en la oficina.

¿Qué haces pasado mañana?

— A common way to ask about someone's availability or plans.

Hola, ¿qué haces pasado mañana? ¿Quieres ir al parque?

Pasado mañana será otro día.

— A variation of 'tomorrow is another day', suggesting things will improve.

No te preocupes por el error; pasado mañana será otro día.

Lo dejamos para pasado mañana.

— Used when postponing a task or meeting.

Estamos muy cansados hoy. Lo dejamos para pasado mañana.

Pasado mañana a esta hora...

— Used to imagine what one will be doing at the same time in two days.

Pasado mañana a esta hora, estaré en la playa.

Espero tenerlo para pasado mañana.

— A common way to set a tentative deadline.

Estoy trabajando en el diseño. Espero tenerlo para pasado mañana.

Pasado mañana se acaba el plazo.

— Used to warn about a nearing deadline.

¡Date prisa! Pasado mañana se acaba el plazo de inscripción.

Vuelve pasado mañana.

— A standard instruction in shops or offices for follow-ups.

El jefe no está hoy. Vuelve pasado mañana.

Pasado mañana es festivo.

— Used to announce an upcoming public holiday.

No olvides que pasado mañana es festivo y todo estará cerrado.

Si no es hoy, será pasado mañana.

— An expression of patience or inevitability.

No te preocupes por el paquete. Si no es hoy, será pasado mañana.

Often Confused With

pasado mañana vs ayer por la mañana

Learners see 'mañana' and 'pasado' (past) and think it means 'yesterday morning'. It does not.

pasado mañana vs mañana por la mañana

Means 'tomorrow morning'. 'Pasado mañana' is 24 hours after that.

pasado mañana vs el día después de mañana

A literal translation of English that native speakers rarely use.

Idioms & Expressions

"de hoy a pasado mañana"

— In a very short amount of time, often used to describe rapid changes.

Su fortuna creció de hoy a pasado mañana.

Informal

"no dejar para pasado mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy"

— A play on the proverb 'don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today', emphasizing even more delay.

Deberías estudiar ya; no dejes para pasado mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.

Colloquial

"vivir para pasado mañana"

— To be always focused on the future rather than the present.

Él no disfruta el ahora, siempre vive para pasado mañana.

Metaphorical

"prometer para pasado mañana"

— To give a vague promise of future action to avoid immediate responsibility.

El político siempre promete para pasado mañana pero nunca cumple.

Cynical

"pasado mañana por la tarde (ironic)"

— Sometimes used sarcastically to mean 'never' or 'when pigs fly'.

¿Que me vas a pagar? Sí, claro, pasado mañana por la tarde.

Slang

"entre hoy y pasado mañana"

— In the next couple of days.

Te daré una respuesta entre hoy y pasado mañana.

Neutral

"más allá de pasado mañana"

— Looking further into the future than the immediate plans.

Debemos pensar más allá de pasado mañana para que el negocio funcione.

Professional

"ni mañana ni pasado mañana"

— Emphatically stating that something will not happen in the near future.

No voy a perdonarte, ni mañana ni pasado mañana.

Emotional

"esperar al pasado mañana"

— To wait for a better time that may or may not come.

No esperes al pasado mañana para ser feliz.

Philosophical

"pasado mañana en ocho"

— In some regions, this can mean 'a week from the day after tomorrow'.

Nos vemos pasado mañana en ocho.

Regional/Dialectal

Easily Confused

pasado mañana vs mañana

Means both 'tomorrow' and 'morning'.

In 'pasado mañana', it specifically means the day 'tomorrow'.

Mañana por la mañana (Tomorrow morning).

pasado mañana vs pasado

Usually means 'past', like 'el año pasado'.

Here it means 'passed' or 'after'.

El mes pasado (Last month).

pasado mañana vs ayer

Both are temporal adverbs.

Ayer is -1 day; pasado mañana is +2 days.

Ayer comí pizza.

pasado mañana vs anteayer

It is the past equivalent.

Anteayer is -2 days; pasado mañana is +2 days.

Te vi anteayer.

pasado mañana vs pronto

Both refer to the future.

Pronto is vague; pasado mañana is specific (48 hours).

Nos vemos pronto.

Sentence Patterns

Tengo [evento] pasado mañana.

Tengo clase pasado mañana.

Pasado mañana es [día/fecha].

Pasado mañana es jueves.

Voy a [verbo] pasado mañana.

Voy a correr pasado mañana.

Pasado mañana por la [tarde/noche].

Pasado mañana por la tarde voy al cine.

Espero que [subjuntivo] pasado mañana.

Espero que haga sol pasado mañana.

Si [presente], [futuro] pasado mañana.

Si vienes hoy, saldremos pasado mañana.

Para pasado mañana, ya habré [participio].

Para pasado mañana, ya habré terminado el libro.

No será sino hasta pasado mañana cuando [subjuntivo/futuro].

No será sino hasta pasado mañana cuando sepamos la verdad.

Word Family

Nouns

mañana (tomorrow/morning)

pasado (the past)

Verbs

pasar (to pass/to happen)

mañanear (to rise early - regional)

Adjectives

pasado/a (past/last)

mañanero/a (early morning)

anteayer

ayer

hoy

mañana

traspasado

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in daily spoken and written Spanish.

Common Mistakes

El pasado mañana → Pasado mañana
In Spanish, temporal adverbs like 'mañana' and 'pasado mañana' do not take the definite article 'el'.
En pasado mañana → Pasado mañana
English speakers often try to translate 'on the day after tomorrow', but 'en' is not used here.
Pasado manana → Pasado mañana
Forgetting the tilde on the 'ñ' changes the pronunciation and is a spelling error.
El día después de mañana → Pasado mañana
While not 'wrong', it is a clunky anglicism. 'Pasado mañana' is much more natural.
Fui allí pasado mañana → Iré allí pasado mañana
You cannot use the past tense with a future-oriented phrase like 'pasado mañana'.

Tips

No Articles

Never put 'el' or 'la' before 'pasado mañana'. It is an adverbial phrase that doesn't need them.

The Soft D

The 'd' in 'pasado' is very soft, like the 'th' in 'weather'. Don't make it a hard 'd' like in 'dog'.

Pair with Anteayer

Learn 'pasado mañana' (+2 days) and 'anteayer' (-2 days) together to master your 48-hour range.

Be Specific

In professional contexts, using 'pasado mañana' is often better than 'pronto' because it shows you have a plan.

Rhythm is Key

Say 'pa-sa-do ma-ña-na' with equal stress on the second syllable of each word.

Email Usage

In emails, 'pasado mañana' is a great way to set a follow-up date without being too aggressive.

Watch for specifications

Listen for 'por la mañana' or 'a las...' right after the phrase to get the exact time.

The Hurdle Mnemonic

Imagine jumping over the hurdle of 'tomorrow' to land on 'pasado mañana'.

Verb Tenses

Use the present tense for future certainty: 'Vuelvo pasado mañana' sounds very natural.

Pasao

If you are in Spain or the Caribbean, get used to hearing 'pasao' instead of 'pasado'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Passing Tomorrow'. You have to PASS (pasado) TOMORROW (mañana) to get to the day after tomorrow.

Visual Association

Imagine a calendar with today marked 'X', tomorrow marked 'X', and a big bright 'GO' sign on the day after tomorrow.

Word Web

Hoy Mañana Pasado Mañana Anteayer Ayer Futuro Calendario Cita

Challenge

Try to use 'pasado mañana' in three different sentences today: one about work/school, one about a meal, and one about a friend.

Word Origin

From the Spanish words 'pasado' (past participle of 'pasar', from Latin 'passare') and 'mañana' (from Vulgar Latin 'maniana', from Latin 'mane' meaning 'in the morning').

Original meaning: Literally 'the morning that has passed' (relative to tomorrow), though it logically means the day after tomorrow.

Romance (Indo-European)

Cultural Context

None. It is a neutral temporal expression.

English speakers often struggle because they want to use 'the' (el) or 'on' (en), which are required in English but forbidden in this Spanish phrase.

The movie 'The Day After Tomorrow' (El día de mañana/El día después de mañana). Various telenovelas use it to set up dramatic confrontations 'pasado mañana'. Popular songs often use it to rhyme with 'mañana' or 'ventana'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Work/Office

Reunión pasado mañana
Fecha límite pasado mañana
Informe para pasado mañana
Pasado mañana a primera hora

Social Life

Fiesta pasado mañana
Cena pasado mañana
¿Vienes pasado mañana?
Pasado mañana quedamos

Travel

Vuelo pasado mañana
Llegada pasado mañana
Salida pasado mañana
Reserva para pasado mañana

Healthcare

Cita pasado mañana
Resultados pasado mañana
Vuelva pasado mañana
Cirugía pasado mañana

Weather

Lluvia pasado mañana
Sol pasado mañana
Tormenta pasado mañana
Clima pasado mañana

Conversation Starters

"¿Tienes algún plan interesante para pasado mañana?"

"¿Crees que hará buen tiempo pasado mañana para ir al parque?"

"¿Podemos terminar este proyecto para pasado mañana o necesitamos más tiempo?"

"¿Sabías que pasado mañana es el aniversario de la ciudad?"

"¿Prefieres que nos reunamos mañana o pasado mañana?"

Journal Prompts

Describe todo lo que tienes planeado hacer pasado mañana desde que te despiertas hasta que te acuestas.

Imagina que pasado mañana es el día más importante de tu vida. ¿Qué está pasando?

Escribe una lista de tres cosas que quieres haber terminado para pasado mañana.

Si pudieras viajar a cualquier lugar pasado mañana, ¿a dónde irías y por qué?

¿Cómo crees que será tu rutina pasado mañana comparada con la de hoy?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you should never use the article 'el' before 'pasado mañana'. It functions as an adverbial phrase and stands alone. Just say 'Pasado mañana voy al médico'.

No, in this specific phrase, 'mañana' refers to the day 'tomorrow'. If you want to say 'the day after tomorrow in the morning', you say 'pasado mañana por la mañana'.

It is always 'pasado mañana'. Even though 'mañana' can be feminine when it means 'morning', in this temporal phrase, it is always masculine/neutral 'pasado'.

There is no common single phrase for this. You would say 'dentro de tres días' (in three days) or name the specific day of the week.

It is both! It is the standard term used in all levels of formality, from casual chats with friends to formal business meetings.

No, 'pasado mañana' always refers to the future. If you want to talk about two days ago, use 'anteayer'.

'Pasado mañana' is more common in speech and relative to 'today'. 'Dentro de dos días' is slightly more formal and emphasizes the 48-hour duration.

'Pasao mañana' is a common colloquial pronunciation where the 'd' is dropped. It is fine for speaking with friends but should be avoided in writing or formal situations.

No, do not use 'en'. Simply say 'Pasado mañana' followed by your verb or the rest of the sentence.

You can ask '¿Qué día es pasado mañana?' or '¿A qué día estamos pasado mañana?'