Italian · Time, Numbers & Colors
"Yesterday" in Italian: ieri
ieri
Yesterday in Italian is ieri (YEH-ree). Ieri sera means yesterday evening. Pair ieri with a past tense: ieri ho visto Marco (yesterday I saw Marco).
Catching up
Ieri ho dormito pochissimo.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce ieri
Say it
YEH-ree
/ˈjɛ.ri/
Ieri is YEH-ree with stress on YEH. The i before e creates a y glide. Keep it to two clear beats.
"Yesterday" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ieri | yesterday The day before today. | The day before today. |
| ieri sera | yesterday evening / last night Evening stories. | Evening stories. |
| ieri mattina | yesterday morning Morning reference. | Morning reference. |
| l'altro ieri | the day before yesterday Two days back. | Two days back. |
How to use ieri in real life
- 1Catching up
Ieri ho dormito pochissimo.
Yesterday I slept very little.
Ieri plus passato prossimo.
- 2Explaining absence
Ieri non sono venuto perché ero malato.
Yesterday I didn't come because I was ill.
Ieri at the front.
- 3Movie talk
Ieri sera abbiamo visto un film comico.
Last night we watched a comedy.
Ieri sera.
Mistakes English speakers make with ieri
Incorrect: Ieri io vado al mare.
Correct: Ieri sono andato/a al mare.
Yesterday needs a past tense, not present vado.
Incorrect: Il ieri era lungo.
Correct: Ieri è stato lungo. / La giornata di ieri…
Do not put a bare article before ieri in the adverb use.
Good to know
Storytelling often starts with ieri or ieri sera before the detail. Because English last night maps to ieri sera, learners should not invent ieri notte for ordinary evening plans.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Recapping a weekend football match
ChatPal
Ieri la partita era pazzesca!
Yesterday the match was crazy!
You
Vero. Ieri sera ho ancora la voce rotta.
True. Since yesterday evening my voice is still shot.
ChatPal
Anche io. Ieri abbiamo urlato troppo.
Me too. Yesterday we shouted too much.
You
Però ieri vale la pena. Che bella vittoria!
But yesterday was worth it. What a lovely win!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Yesterday" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Yesterday" in Italian
How do I say last night?
Ieri sera for yesterday evening. Ieri notte appears for late-night hours.
What tense do I use with ieri?
Usually a past tense such as the passato prossimo: ieri ho mangiato.
What is l'altro ieri?
The day before yesterday.
Can ieri start a sentence?
Yes. Ieri… is a very common opening for stories.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- How to Learn Italian Fast and Speak with ConfidenceLearn how to learn Italian with a clear roadmap, speaking-first tactics and daily habits that turn basics into real conversation confidence.
- Translate Hello in Italian with ConfidenceLearn how to translate hello in Italian with context, pronunciation, and practice prompts. Master ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, and salve for real conversations.
