mañana
/maˈɲana/
In Spanish, mañana is used to mean "some time in the future".
As an adverb, mañana refers to an indefinite time in the future. While it can literally mean tomorrow, it is often used to imply a vague or non-specific time rather than the immediate next day.
Meaning: some time in the future (adv)
Which one should you use?
When you want to refer to a vague time in the future, use the adverb mañana. If you wish to refer to the specific time of day (the morning), you must use the noun form with a definite article: la mañana.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈɲana/
Did you know?
- The word mañana is a linguistic descendant of the Proto-Indo-European root *meh₂, which is also the ancestor of the English word 'morning'.
- In some cultures, saying mañana can be a polite way of saying 'no' or 'not ever' without being confrontational.
- Because mañana can refer to both 'the morning' and 'tomorrow', the phrase mañana por la mañana is used to specifically mean 'tomorrow morning'.
Examples in context
- Mañana será un mejor día.Tomorrow will be a better day.
- No te preocupes, lo resolveremos mañana.Don't worry, we will solve it tomorrow.
Example conversation
Two friends are planning a lunch date.
- MaríaHola Alejandro, ¿quieres comer conmigo hoy?Hi Alejandro, do you want to eat with me today?
- AlejandroHoy no puedo, pero ¿qué tal mañana?I can't today, but how about tomorrow?
- MaríaMañana me parece perfecto.Tomorrow sounds perfect to me.
- AlejandroGenial, nos vemos entonces.Great, see you then.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mañana, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mañana, CC BY-SA 4.0.
