ayer

Lemma Details

Translation: yesterday; the day before

Part of Speech: adverb

Etymology: Ayer comes from Latin 'ad heri' meaning 'on yesterday'. The Latin 'heri' is cognate with English 'yester-' (as in yesterday). Both derive from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰes which meant 'yesterday'. The evolution from Latin to Spanish shows the typical pattern of intervocalic -d- loss (ad heri → a(d)eri → ayer).

Commonality: 95%

Guessability: 30%

Register: neutral

Mnemonics

  • Think of 'ayer' as sounding a bit like 'earlier' - which is when yesterday was.
  • The 'y' in 'ayer' can remind you of 'yesterday' which starts with 'y' in English.

Related Words, Phrases & Idioms

anteayer

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No translation

ayer por la mañana

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No translation

ayer por la tarde

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No translation

ayer por la noche

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No translation

como si fuera ayer

Unknown

No translation

el ayer

Unknown

No translation

Synonyms

el día anterior

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No translation

el día de antes

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No translation

Antonyms

hoy

Unknown

No translation

mañana

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No translation

Cultural Context

In Spanish-speaking cultures, 'ayer' is often used in expressions about the past or nostalgia. The phrase 'el ayer' (literally 'the yesterday') is commonly used to refer to the past in general, not just the previous day.

Easily Confused With

ahora

Unknown

No translation

Commonality: 0%

Explanation: While 'ayer' means 'yesterday', 'ahora' means 'now'. They are both time adverbs but refer to different time periods.

Notes: These words are often used together in contrasting statements about past and present.

Mnemonic: 'Ayer' starts with 'a' like 'ago' (in the past), while 'ahora' has an 'h' like 'here and now'.

ya

Unknown

No translation

Commonality: 0%

Explanation: 'Ayer' is specifically 'yesterday', while 'ya' means 'already' or 'now'.

Notes: 'Ya' refers to completion or current state, while 'ayer' specifically refers to the previous day.

Mnemonic: 'Ya' is short and quick like the immediate present, while 'ayer' is longer like the more distant past.