ontem
/ˈõ.tẽj̃/
The Portuguese word for yesterday is ontem.
ontem is used as a noun to mean the day before today, or as an adverb to mean on the day before today.
Meaning: day before today (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
If you want to refer to the day before yesterday, use the word anteontem.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable. It is pronounced /ˈõ.tẽj̃/.
Did you know?
- The word ontem is derived from the Latin phrase 'ad noctem', which literally means 'towards the night'.
- In Spanish, the similar sounding word anoche specifically refers to 'last night', whereas Portuguese uses ontem to cover the entire previous 24-hour period.
- The pronunciation of ontem involves a nasal vowel sound that does not exist in English.
Examples in context
- Ontem eu a vi.I saw her yesterday.This sentence demonstrates the use of ontem.Tatoeba #669692 by Gyuri, translation #1528860 by erikspen
- Eu a vi ontem.I saw you yesterday.Tatoeba #2599207 by alexmarcelo, translation #1475824 by CM
- Eu o vi ontem.I saw him yesterday.Tatoeba #2599208 by alexmarcelo, translation #6133842 by Blabla
- Eu assisti a um filme interessante ontem.I watched an interesting movie yesterday.
- Ele chegou tarde ao escritório ontem.He arrived late to the office yesterday.
- Ontem foi o aniversário do meu amigo.Yesterday was my friend's birthday.
- Ontem à tarde eu fui ao cinema com minha família.Yesterday afternoon, I went to the movies with my family.
- Ela me ligou ontem à noite para contar as novidades.She called me yesterday evening to share the news.
- Eu estava cansado porque trabalhei muito no dia anterior.I was tired because I worked a lot the day before.
- 1237 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Camila are talking about a movie.
- LucasVocê assistiu ao filme ontem?Did you watch the movie yesterday?
- CamilaNão, eu vi apenas hoje.No, I only saw it today.
- LucasPoxa, eu queria ter visto ontem.Darn, I wanted to have seen it yesterday.
- CamilaAinda dá tempo de ver hoje.There is still time to see it today.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yesterday” translations and entries ontem, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ontem, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
