Portuguese · Time, Numbers & Colors
"Yesterday" in Portuguese: ontem
ontem
Yesterday in Portuguese is ontem. Use it with past verbs: Ontem eu trabalhei até tarde. Pair it with hoje and amanhã to build simple timelines.
Catching up
Ontem eu conheci seus colegas no café.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce ontem
Say it
OHN-tayng
/ˈõ.tẽ/
OHN-tayng in many Brazilian accents, or OHN-teñ. Stress ohn.
"Yesterday" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ontem | yesterday Default adverb. | Default adverb. |
| ontem de manhã | yesterday morning Part of the previous day. | Part of the previous day. |
| ontem à noite | last night Evening of yesterday. | Evening of yesterday. |
| antes de ontem | the day before yesterday Two days back. | Two days back. |
| desde ontem | since yesterday Ongoing from yesterday. | Ongoing from yesterday. |
How to use ontem in real life
- 1Catching up
Ontem eu conheci seus colegas no café.
Yesterday I met your coworkers at the café.
Ontem + past verb is the basic pattern.
- 2Explaining delay
O e-mail chegou ontem à noite.
The email arrived last night.
Ontem à noite means last night.
- 3News talk
Desde ontem o trânsito está impossível.
Since yesterday the traffic has been impossible.
Desde ontem marks a starting point.
Mistakes English speakers make with ontem
Incorrect: Eu fui yesterday no mercado.
Correct: Eu fui ontem ao mercado.
Use ontem, not English yesterday.
Incorrect: Ontem eu vou viajar.
Correct: Ontem eu viajei. / Amanhã eu vou viajar.
Ontem needs a past verb; future plans use amanhã.
Good to know
Brazilians often open stories with Ontem… then add colorful detail. Antes de ontem covers two days ago without needing a full date.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Talking about a concert you missed
ChatPal
Você foi ao show ontem?
Did you go to the show yesterday?
You
Não. Ontem eu precisei trabalhar até tarde.
No. Yesterday I had to work late.
ChatPal
Que pena. Ontem à noite a banda tocou demais.
What a pity. Last night the band played amazingly.
You
Imagino. Desde ontem todo mundo manda vídeo.
I can imagine. Since yesterday everyone has been sending videos.
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 Portuguese
How do I say last night?
Ontem à noite.
How do I say the day before yesterday?
Antes de ontem.
Does ontem need a past tense?
Usually yes: Ontem eu comi, Ontem choveu.
Where does ontem go in the sentence?
Often first or last: Ontem eu estudei / Eu estudei ontem.
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
