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
Synonyms
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
Explanation: While 'ayer' means 'yesterday', 'ahora' means 'now'. They are both time adverbs but refer to different time periods.
This word:
Ayer estaba enfermo.
Yesterday I was sick.
Confused word:
Ahora me siento mejor.
Now I feel better.
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'.
Explanation: 'Ayer' is specifically 'yesterday', while 'ya' means 'already' or 'now'.
Confused word:
Ya terminé mi trabajo.
I've already finished my work.
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.