How do you say “yesterday” in Portuguese? If you’re looking to communicate in Brazil or Portugal, knowing the correct translation of this common term is essential. The Portuguese language, like many others, has its unique way of expressing everyday concepts. In this article, we’ll explore the translation of “yesterday” in Portuguese and provide some additional context to help you sound like a native speaker.
The Portuguese word for “yesterday” is “ontem.” This term is straightforward and widely used in both Brazilian and Portuguese Portuguese. When speaking or writing, you can simply use “ontem” to refer to the day before today. It’s important to note that “ontem” is an adjective, so you may need to adjust your sentence structure when incorporating it into a phrase or question.
For example, if you want to say “What did you do yesterday?” in Portuguese, you would say “O que você fez ontem?” Here, “o que” means “what,” “você” means “you,” and “fez” is the past tense of “fazer,” which means “to do.” By combining these words, you create a complete sentence that asks about someone’s activities from the previous day.
In addition to “ontem,” there are a few other ways to express “yesterday” in Portuguese, depending on the context. For instance, “ontem à noite” means “last night,” while “ontem à tarde” refers to “yesterday afternoon.” These phrases can be particularly useful when discussing specific times of the day or events that occurred on the day before.
When using “ontem” in a conversation, it’s also essential to be aware of the verb conjugation. In Portuguese, the verb tense and subject often go together, so you’ll need to match the verb with the appropriate conjugation based on who you’re addressing. For example, if you’re talking to someone informally, you might say “Ontem eu fui ao cinema” (Yesterday I went to the cinema). However, if you’re speaking to someone formally, you would use “Ontem fui ao cinema” (Yesterday I went to the cinema).
In conclusion, the Portuguese translation for “yesterday” is “ontem.” This term is widely used and can be easily incorporated into various sentences and conversations. By familiarizing yourself with “ontem” and its variations, you’ll be well on your way to sounding like a native Portuguese speaker.
