Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mañana | /maˈɲana/ | feminine |
| matina | /maˈtina/ | feminine |
| matino | /maˈtino/ | masculine |
The word refers to the part of the day between dawn and midday. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying mañana can colloquially imply that something will be done eventually, rather than specifically tomorrow.
Which one should you use?
The word mañana can mean both 'morning' and 'tomorrow' depending on how it is used. When used as an adverb, it means 'tomorrow'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase Buen día is commonly used in Argentina and Uruguay. In Mexico and other Latin American countries, people use ¡Que tengas un lindo día! to say 'have a nice day'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to the time of day 'the morning', you must use the feminine article la with mañana. When used without an article to mean 'tomorrow', mañana functions as an adverb.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈɲana/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse mañana (morning) with mañana (tomorrow) because they are spelled identically.
When do people say it?
Buenos días is the most common and widely accepted way to say 'good morning'. As a polite alternative in formal settings, you can use ¡Feliz día! For a casual way to say 'hello, good day' in the morning, use Hola, buen día.
Did you know?
- While Buenos días is plural, it is used to greet a single person during the 'morning'.
- The etymological ancestor of mañana is the Latin word māne, which simply meant 'early'.
- The word mañana is a linguistic relative of the Portuguese word manhã.
Examples in context
- Es por la mañana.It's morning.This sentence is useful for stating that it is morning.Tatoeba #2192005 by Shishir, translation #2187223 by CK
- Salgo en la mañana.I leave in the morning.This sentence is useful for stating when you leave.Tatoeba #4398673 by pchamorro, translation #2377280 by CK
- Volveré por la mañana.I'll come back by the morning.This sentence is useful for stating when you will return.Tatoeba #1135970 by Shishir, translation #1334375 by marcelostockle
- ¡Buenos días, María! Espero que tengas un día maravilloso.Good morning, María! I hope you have a wonderful day.
- ¡Buenos días, hermanito/a! ¿Cómo amaneciste hoy?Good morning, little brother/sister! How did you wake up today?
- 930 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are planning a meeting.
- Lucía¿Puedes hablar esta mañana?Can you talk this morning?
- JavierLo siento, Lucía, no puedo.I'm sorry, Lucía, I can't.
- LucíaEntiendo, ¿qué tal la tarde?I understand, how about the afternoon?
- JavierLa tarde está bien para mí.The afternoon is good for me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “morning” translations and entries mañana, matina, matino, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries matina, matino, mañana, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
