de un día para otro
/de un ˌdia ˌpaɾa ˈotɾo/
The English word "overnight" is translated into Spanish as de un día para otro.
The phrase de un día para otro is an adverb used to describe something that happens during a single night. In English, "overnight" can sometimes mean something occurred during the night hours, but in Spanish, de un día para otro is most commonly used idiomatically to mean "suddenly" or "without prior notice," describing a change that happens between one day and the next.
Meaning: during a single night (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase de un día para otro literally translates to "from one day to another".
Which one should you use?
While de un día para otro functions as an adverbial phrase meaning "overnight," you should use different words depending on your specific meaning. If you are referring to an overnight stay, use the nouns pernocta or pernoctación. If you want to describe something that happens suddenly or rapidly, you can also use the idiom de la noche a la mañana, which literally means "from night to morning".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The idiom de la noche a la mañana is a common synonymous way to express "overnight" when describing rapid or sudden changes.
How do you pronounce it?
/de un ˌdia ˌpaɾa ˈotɾo/
Did you know?
- Unlike the English 'day', which comes from a root meaning 'period of light', the Spanish día descends from a root meaning 'heaven' or 'sky'.
- While pernocta is used for an overnight stay, it is a formal term often found in hotel contracts and legal documents rather than casual conversation.
- In Spanish, there is no single word that matches the versatility of 'overnight', requiring speakers to choose between idioms for speed and nouns for lodging.
Examples in context
- Este es un tipo de problema que no se puede resolver de un día para otro.This is a type of problem that can't be solved overnight.This sentence shows how to use de un día para otro to describe a problem that cannot be resolved instantly.Tatoeba #1400985 by alexmarcelo, translation #10501851 by DJ_Saidez
- El precio de las acciones subió de la noche a la mañana.The stock price rose overnight.
- Tengo que arreglar este problema de un día para otro.I have to fix this problem overnight.
- Me enamoré de la noche a la mañana.I fell in love overnight.
- Vamos a necesitar un hotel para pasar la noche en Madrid.We will need a hotel to spend the night in Madrid.
- Ese cantante se hizo famoso de la noche a la mañana.That singer became famous overnight.
- Las cosas no cambian de un día para otro.Things do not change overnight.
- Su fortuna cambió de un día para otro.His fortune changed overnight.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are discussing a sudden change in a coworker's behavior.
- Daniel¿Viste cómo cambió su actitud?Did you see how his attitude changed?
- SofíaSí, fue de un día para otro.Yes, it happened overnight.
- DanielEs muy extraño.It is very strange.
- SofíaTotalmente, no entiendo nada.Totally, I don't understand anything.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry de un día para otro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, día, otro, para, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
