Tegnap.
Yesterday.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Tegnap is the essential Hungarian word for 'yesterday,' used to anchor any conversation in the past.
- Means: The day immediately preceding today.
- Used in: Recounting stories, reporting work progress, or explaining absences.
- Don't confuse: With 'holnap' (tomorrow), which sounds similar to beginners.
Explanation at your level:
Significado
The day before today.
Contexto cultural
Hungarians often use 'tegnapelőtt' (day before yesterday) much more than English speakers, who might just say 'two days ago'. It's a very precise culture regarding recent history. The phrase 'tegnapra kell' (it's needed for yesterday) is a common, slightly stressful joke in Hungarian offices to indicate a task is extremely urgent. Many famous Hungarian poems use 'tegnap' to contrast the fleeting nature of youth or happiness with the present reality. On Hungarian Instagram, you'll see #tegnap used for photos from the previous night's party, often as a way to extend the social experience.
The '-i' Rule
If you want to say 'yesterday's something', always add '-i'. Tegnap -> Tegnapi.
Tense Match
Never use 'tegnap' with a future tense verb unless you are being very poetic or sarcastic.
Significado
The day before today.
The '-i' Rule
If you want to say 'yesterday's something', always add '-i'. Tegnap -> Tegnapi.
Tense Match
Never use 'tegnap' with a future tense verb unless you are being very poetic or sarcastic.
Tegnapelőtt
Learn this word early. Hungarians use it much more than English speakers use 'the day before yesterday'.
Belated Wishes
If you missed a birthday 'tegnap', use 'utólag' when you finally call.
Teste-se
Fill in the blank with the correct word for 'yesterday'.
______ moziban voltam a barátaimmal.
The verb 'voltam' is in the past tense, so 'Tegnap' is the only logical choice.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct adjectival usage.
When describing a noun (leves), you must use the adjectival form 'tegnapi'.
Match the Hungarian time word with its English meaning.
Match the pairs:
These are the four basic temporal anchors in Hungarian.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Mit csináltál ______? B: Aludtam egész nap.
The answer 'Aludtam' (I slept) is in the past tense, indicating the question was about yesterday.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Adverb vs Adjective
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasNo, 'tegnap' is an adverb and stands alone. You just say 'Tegnap mentem.'
You can say 'tegnap este' (yesterday evening) or 'tegnap éjjel' (yesterday night).
It is neutral. It's used in every level of formality.
'Múltnap' is not a standard word. Always use 'tegnap' for yesterday.
No, 'tegnap' is specifically 24 hours ago. Use 'mostanában' for recently.
Use 'tegnap óta'.
No, it is a hard 'g' sound, fully pronounced.
Yes, in sentences like 'A tegnap nehéz volt' (Yesterday was hard), it acts as a noun.
It means 'the day before yesterday'.
Tegnapi hírek.
Frases relacionadas
tegnapelőtt
builds onThe day before yesterday
tegnapi
specialized formYesterday's
ma
contrastToday
tavaly
similarLast year
múltkor
similarThe other time / recently
Onde usar
Explaining a delay
Boss: Kész van a jelentés?
Employee: Tegnap elkezdtem, de még nem fejeztem be.
Meeting a friend
Anna: Szia! Mit csináltál tegnap?
Béla: Tegnap moziban voltam a barátnőmmel.
Doctor's visit
Orvos: Mióta fáj a torka?
Beteg: Tegnap reggel óta.
Ordering food
Customer: A tegnapi pizzám hideg volt.
Staff: Elnézést, adunk egy újat.
Checking news
A: Olvastad a tegnapi híreket?
B: Nem, mi történt?
Dating
A: Nagyon jól éreztem magam tegnap.
B: Én is! Találkozzunk holnap is.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'TAG-NAP'. You 'tag' the 'nap' (day) that just passed.
Visual Association
Imagine a calendar page being ripped off and falling behind you into a pile labeled 'TEG'.
Rhyme
Tegnap volt a szép nap. (Yesterday was the beautiful day.)
Story
You went to a party. You had a 'TAG' on your wrist from the 'NAP' (day) before. That was 'TEGNAP'.
Word Web
Desafio
Write three things you did yesterday using 'Tegnap...' and post them in a language forum.
In Other Languages
Ayer
Spanish uses 'de ayer' for adjectives, while Hungarian uses the suffix '-i'.
Hier
French pronunciation of 'hier' is much shorter than the two-syllable 'tegnap'.
Gestern
German word order is stricter regarding the position of 'gestern' in the sentence.
昨日 (Kinou)
Japanese verbs don't change as drastically for past tense as Hungarian ones do when paired with 'tegnap'.
أمس (Ams)
Arabic has different words for 'yesterday' depending on whether it has a definite article or not.
昨天 (Zuótiān)
Chinese verbs do not change tense, so 'Zuótiān' is the only marker of the past.
어제 (Eo-je)
Korean often drops the subject, making 'Eo-je' the primary focus of the sentence.
Ontem
Portuguese 'ontem' is derived from Latin 'ad noctem' (to night), while Hungarian is Uralic.
Easily Confused
Both end in '-nap' and are taught together, leading to 'yesterday/tomorrow' flips.
Remember 'T' for 'Tegnap' (Time passed) and 'H' for 'Holnap' (Hope for the future).
Learners use 'tegnap' for any past event.
'Tegnap' is exactly 1 day ago. 'Régen' is a long time ago.
Perguntas frequentes (10)
No, 'tegnap' is an adverb and stands alone. You just say 'Tegnap mentem.'
You can say 'tegnap este' (yesterday evening) or 'tegnap éjjel' (yesterday night).
It is neutral. It's used in every level of formality.
'Múltnap' is not a standard word. Always use 'tegnap' for yesterday.
No, 'tegnap' is specifically 24 hours ago. Use 'mostanában' for recently.
Use 'tegnap óta'.
No, it is a hard 'g' sound, fully pronounced.
Yes, in sentences like 'A tegnap nehéz volt' (Yesterday was hard), it acts as a noun.
It means 'the day before yesterday'.
Tegnapi hírek.
