day before yesterday
in Spanishanteayer
/ahn-teh-ah-YEHR/
This is the most standard and universally understood word for 'the day before yesterday'. You can use it in any situation, formal or informal, in any Spanish-speaking country.
In Spanish, a single word like 'anteayer' can take you back in time two full days, from 'hoy' (today) to the day before 'ayer' (yesterday).
💬Other Ways to Say It
antier
/ahn-TYEHR/
A very common, slightly shortened, and more casual version of 'anteayer'. In many parts of Latin America, especially Mexico, this is the default word in everyday conversation.
antes de ayer
/AHN-tess deh ah-YEHR/
This is a literal translation of 'before yesterday'. It's perfectly correct and understood everywhere, but it's less common and sounds a bit more deliberate than the single-word options.
🔑Key Words
Key Words to learn:
📊Quick Comparison
Here’s a quick comparison to help you choose the best option for your situation.
| Phrase | Formality | Best For | Avoid When |
|---|---|---|---|
| anteayer | Neutral | Any situation in any Spanish-speaking country. It's the universal standard. | Never necessary to avoid, it's always correct. |
| antier | Informal | Casual, everyday conversations in Mexico and much of Latin America. | In very formal settings or when speaking in Spain, where it's not standard. |
| antes de ayer | Neutral | When you can't remember the other words or want to add special emphasis. | In fast, casual conversation where a single word is more natural. |
📈Difficulty Level
Fairly easy. The main challenge is getting the stress right on the last syllable: ahn-teh-ah-YEHR.
It's a single adverb that doesn't change. You just place it in a sentence, usually at the beginning or end.
The only real nuance is the regional preference for 'anteayer' (universal/Spain) vs. 'antier' (Latin America).
Key Challenges:
- Remembering the word itself.
- Knowing the regional difference between 'anteayer' and 'antier'.
💡Examples in Action
Anteayer llovió todo el día, así que nos quedamos en casa.
The day before yesterday it rained all day, so we stayed home.
Te llamé antier para confirmar la cita, ¿no recibiste mi mensaje?
I called you the day before yesterday to confirm the appointment, didn't you get my message?
El informe final debía entregarse antes de ayer, ahora está retrasado.
The final report was due the day before yesterday, now it's late.
¿Recuerdas la película que vimos anteayer? ¡Fue fantástica!
Do you remember the movie we saw the day before yesterday? It was fantastic!
🌍Cultural Context
The Beauty of Single Words
Spanish loves creating single adverbs for time concepts that take multiple words in English. 'Anteayer' is a perfect example, just like 'pasado mañana' for 'the day after tomorrow'. It's a neat feature of the language that makes speaking about time very efficient.
The 'Antier' vs. 'Anteayer' Divide
The choice between 'anteayer' and 'antier' is one of the classic small differences between European Spanish and Latin American Spanish. In Spain, 'antier' can sound old-fashioned or rural, while in Mexico and other parts of Latin America, it's the everyday norm. Using the local preference is a great way to connect.
What About Three Days Ago?
You might hear the word 'trasanteayer' or 'trasantier'. Be careful! These very rare and regional words mean 'three days ago' (the day before the day before yesterday), not 'the day before yesterday'. To be safe, it's much more common and clear to say 'hace tres días' for 'three days ago'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
The Literal Translation Trap
Mistake: "Saying 'el día antes de ayer'."
Correction: Use 'anteayer', 'antier', or 'antes de ayer'.
Day vs. Night
Mistake: "Confusing 'anteayer' (day before yesterday) with 'anteanoche' (the night before last)."
Correction: Use 'anteayer' for the day and 'anteanoche' for the night.
Using 'Antier' in Spain
Mistake: "Using 'antier' in a formal conversation in Spain."
Correction: Default to 'anteayer' in Spain.
💡Pro Tips
Your Universal Go-To
When in doubt, always use 'anteayer'. It is 100% correct in every country and every situation. It's the perfect one to learn first and rely on.
Listen for 'Antier'
If you're in Latin America, keep your ears open. If you hear people around you saying 'antier' all the time, that's your cue to start using it too! It will make you sound more integrated and natural.
Memorize the Time Sequence
Practice saying the sequence to lock it in your memory: 'Anteayer' (day before yesterday), 'ayer' (yesterday), 'hoy' (today), 'mañana' (tomorrow), 'pasado mañana' (day after tomorrow).
🗺️Regional Variations
Spain
In Spain, 'anteayer' is the undisputed standard. 'Antier' is considered an archaism or a regionalism and is almost never used in standard Castilian Spanish. Using it might mark you as a foreigner or someone from a specific rural area.
Mexico
'Antier' is king in casual, everyday Mexican Spanish. It's used far more frequently than 'anteayer' in informal contexts. 'Anteayer' is perfectly understood and might be used in more formal writing or speech, but 'antier' is the heart of daily conversation.
Argentina
Argentinians strongly prefer 'anteayer'. The pronunciation of the 'y' as a 'sh' sound is a key feature of the Rioplatense accent. 'Antier' is generally not used here.
Colombia
Colombia is a country where both 'anteayer' and 'antier' coexist and are used frequently. 'Antier' might be slightly more common in casual, spoken language, while 'anteayer' is also perfectly normal. You can use either and sound perfectly natural.
💬What Comes Next?
You mention something happened 'anteayer'.
¿En serio? Cuéntame más.
Really? Tell me more.
Pues, resulta que...
Well, it turns out that...
You ask if an event was 'anteayer'.
No, te equivocas. Fue la semana pasada.
No, you're mistaken. It was last week.
¡Ah, vale! Gracias por la aclaración.
Oh, okay! Thanks for clarifying.
🧠Memory Tricks
This connects the Spanish prefix 'ante-' (meaning 'before') to a similar-sounding English word, making the meaning easier to remember.
🔄How It Differs from English
The most significant difference is that Spanish has a compact, single word ('anteayer' or 'antier') for what requires a three-word phrase in English ('day before yesterday'). This efficiency is a common feature in Spanish time expressions and showcases how the language often packages concepts differently.
🎯Your Learning Path
✏️Test Your Knowledge
💡 Quick Quiz: day before yesterday
Question 1 of 3
You're chatting with a new friend in Mexico City. Which phrase would be the most natural and common way to say 'I arrived the day before yesterday'?
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between 'anteayer' and 'antier'?
They mean the exact same thing: 'the day before yesterday'. The only difference is regional and stylistic. 'Anteayer' is the universal standard, used everywhere and safe in any context. 'Antier' is a more casual and very common variation used in Mexico and many other parts of Latin America.
Is 'antier' incorrect or bad Spanish?
Not at all! 'Antier' is perfectly correct and is recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE). It's just a variant that has become the preferred form in many regions for everyday speech. Thinking of it as 'slang' is wrong; it's more like the difference between 'sofa' and 'couch'.
Can I just say 'antes de ayer' all the time?
You can, and everyone will understand you perfectly. However, it's not the most common way to say it. Using 'anteayer' or 'antier' (depending on the region) will make your Spanish sound much more natural and less like you're translating directly from English.
How do I say 'three days ago' then?
The clearest and most common way to say 'three days ago' is 'hace tres días'. While the word 'trasanteayer' exists, it's very rare and not widely used or understood. Stick with 'hace tres días' to be safe.
Do I need to put 'el' before 'anteayer'?
No, you don't. 'Anteayer' is an adverb, so it works on its own without an article like 'el'. You just say 'Fui al mercado anteayer' (I went to the market the day before yesterday).
Which one should I learn first?
Definitely learn 'anteayer' first. It's your universal key that will work everywhere, from Spain to Argentina. Once you're comfortable with it, you can start listening for 'antier' when you're in Latin America and add it to your vocabulary.
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