pasado mañana
Lemma Details
Translation: the day after tomorrow
Part of Speech: adverb
Etymology: Composed of 'pasado' (past) and 'mañana' (tomorrow). The construction literally means 'past tomorrow', indicating a day that is beyond tomorrow. This construction follows a logical time sequence pattern in Spanish where time is conceptualized as moving forward from the present.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of it as 'past tomorrow' - the day that is past (beyond) tomorrow.
- Visualize walking past a sign labeled 'mañana' to reach the day after.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This expression is commonly used in everyday Spanish conversation when making plans or discussing future events. Unlike English, which requires three words ('the day after tomorrow'), Spanish efficiently expresses this concept in just two words.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Pasado mañana' means 'the day after tomorrow', while 'mañana pasada' would mean 'past morning' or 'the morning that has passed'.
This word:
Llegaré pasado mañana por la tarde.
I will arrive the day after tomorrow in the afternoon.
Notes: The position of 'pasado' changes the meaning completely. Before 'mañana', it functions as a preposition meaning 'beyond'; after a noun, it functions as an adjective meaning 'past'.
Mnemonic: Word order matters: 'pasado mañana' (word order: past + tomorrow) = future time; 'mañana pasada' (word order: morning + past) = past time