χθες
chthes/xθes/
The English phrase "yesterday" is translated into Greek as χθες (chthes).
χθες is used to refer to the day before today. It can be used as a noun to name the day or as an adverb to describe when something happened (e.g., "on yesterday").
Meaning: day before today (noun)
Which one should you use?
While χθες is the standard form, you may also see Χτες, which is a shorter version. For the day before yesterday, use the word Προχθές.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In Greek, χθες functions as both a noun and an adverb. You can use it to mean "yesterday" or "on yesterday".
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is chthes. The IPA is /xθes/.
Did you know?
- The word χθες shares an ancient root with the English word 'earth', both descending from the Proto-Indo-European stem for 'ground' or 'earth'.
- In modern Greek conversation, χθες is frequently used in the phrase χθες το βράδυ to mean 'last night' rather than using a specific word for night.
- The word χθες is so foundational that it appears in many traditional Greek folk songs, often used to evoke a sense of nostalgia for a lost or mythical past.
Examples in context
- Χθες έκανε πολύ ζέστη.It was very hot yesterday.This sentence uses χθες to describe the weather.Tatoeba #2950374 by glavkos, translation #9025346 by Nylez
- Χθες συνάντησα τη Μαρία.I met Mary yesterday.This sentence uses χθες to indicate when an encounter occurred.Tatoeba #1538387 by glavkos, translation #257749 by CK
- Τον πήρες τηλέφωνο χθες;Did you ring him yesterday?This sentence uses χθες to ask about the timing of a phone call.Tatoeba #5146352 by katkat, translation #5145111 by Barra
- Η χθεσινή συνάντηση ήταν πολύ σημαντική.Yesterday's meeting was very important.
- Πήγαμε σινεμά χτες.We went to the cinema yesterday.
- Περπάτησα στο πάρκο χθες.I walked in the park yesterday.
- 92 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anastasia and Dimitris are talking about a movie.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΕίδες την ταινία χθες;Eides tin tainia chthes?Did you see the movie yesterday?
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΌχι, δεν είχα χρόνο χθες.Ochi, den eicha chro-no chthes.No, I didn't have time yesterday.
- Αναστασία AnastasiaΉταν πραγματικά υπέροχη!Ita pragmatika yperochi!It was truly wonderful!
- Δημήτρης DimitrisΘα τη δω σήμερα τότε.Tha ti do simera tote.I will watch it today then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yesterday” translations and entries χθες, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries χθες, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
