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How to Say "early" in Spanish

English → Spanish

temprano

/tem-PRA-no//temˈpɾano/

AdverbA1General
Use 'temprano' when describing the time an action happens, like waking up or arriving.
A cheerful squirrel is sitting wide awake on a tree branch against a dark blue sky with the first hint of sunrise on the horizon, illustrating an action happening early.

Examples

Me levanto temprano para ir a trabajar.

I get up early to go to work.

Llegamos demasiado temprano a la fiesta.

We arrived too early to the party.

Es mejor empezar temprano para terminar antes.

It's better to start early to finish sooner.

Fue una cena temprana, a las seis de la tarde.

It was an early dinner, at six in the evening.

The Unchanging Adverb

When 'temprano' describes an action (a verb), it always stays the same. It doesn't matter who is doing the action. It's always 'temprano'.

The Changing Adjective

When 'temprano' describes a thing (a noun), it needs to match that thing's gender and number. It can change to 'temprana' (for feminine things), 'tempranos' (for masculine plural things), or 'tempranas' (for feminine plural things).

Mixing it up with the adjective

Mistake: “She gets up early: *Ella se levanta temprana.*”

Correction: Say: *Ella se levanta temprano.* Because 'temprano' is describing the action of getting up (levantarse), not 'ella'.

Forgetting to match the noun

Mistake: “An early appointment: *una cita temprano*”

Correction: Say: *una cita temprana*. Because 'cita' is a feminine word, the adjective describing it also needs to be feminine.

pronto

/PRON-toh//ˈpɾon.to/

AdverbA1General
Use 'pronto' to indicate that something will happen in a short time from now, similar to 'soon'.
A small, colorful bird flying at high speed across a bright blue sky towards a distant, welcoming tree.

Examples

Nos vemos pronto.

See you soon.

La cena estará lista pronto.

Dinner will be ready soon.

Termina la tarea pronto para que podamos jugar.

Finish the homework quickly so we can play.

An Adverb That Stays the Same

When 'pronto' means 'soon' or 'quickly', it's an adverb. This means it describes an action and never changes its ending. It's always 'pronto', never 'pronta' or 'prontos'.

Confusing 'Pronto' and 'Temprano'

Mistake: “Quiero despertar pronto mañana.”

Correction: Quiero despertar temprano mañana. (I want to wake up early tomorrow.) 'Pronto' means 'soon', while 'temprano' means 'early' in the sense of time of day.

adelantado

ah-deh-lahn-TAH-doh/a.ðe.lanˈta.ðo/

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'adelantado' when referring to a thing or event that is ahead of schedule or happening before the expected time, like a clock being fast.
A smiling beaver stands on a finished dam at sunrise, representing work completed ahead of schedule.

Examples

Mi reloj está cinco minutos adelantado.

My watch is five minutes fast (ahead).

Terminamos el trabajo tres días adelantados.

We finished the work three days ahead of schedule.

Es una tecnología muy adelantada para su época.

It is a very advanced technology for its time.

Gender Agreement

Like many Spanish adjectives, 'adelantado' must change its ending to match the thing it describes: 'un reloj adelantado' (masculine) but 'una tecnología adelantada' (feminine).

Mixing up 'Adelantar' and 'Avanzar'

Mistake: “Using 'avanzado' when referring to being ahead of a clock or schedule.”

Correction: Use 'adelantado' specifically for time or schedules: 'Estamos adelantados' (We are ahead of time). 'Avanzado' is better for general progress or complexity.

temprano

/tem-PRA-no//temˈpɾano/

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'temprano' as an adjective to describe a meal or event that occurs at an unusually early hour.
A cheerful squirrel is sitting wide awake on a tree branch against a dark blue sky with the first hint of sunrise on the horizon, illustrating an action happening early.

Examples

Fue una cena temprana, a las seis de la tarde.

It was an early dinner, at six in the evening.

Me levanto temprano para ir a trabajar.

I get up early to go to work.

Llegamos demasiado temprano a la fiesta.

We arrived too early to the party.

Es mejor empezar temprano para terminar antes.

It's better to start early to finish sooner.

The Unchanging Adverb

When 'temprano' describes an action (a verb), it always stays the same. It doesn't matter who is doing the action. It's always 'temprano'.

The Changing Adjective

When 'temprano' describes a thing (a noun), it needs to match that thing's gender and number. It can change to 'temprana' (for feminine things), 'tempranos' (for masculine plural things), or 'tempranas' (for feminine plural things).

Mixing it up with the adjective

Mistake: “She gets up early: *Ella se levanta temprana.*”

Correction: Say: *Ella se levanta temprano.* Because 'temprano' is describing the action of getting up (levantarse), not 'ella'.

Forgetting to match the noun

Mistake: “An early appointment: *una cita temprano*”

Correction: Say: *una cita temprana*. Because 'cita' is a feminine word, the adjective describing it also needs to be feminine.

Adverb vs. Adjective 'Temprano'

Learners often confuse when to use 'temprano' as an adverb versus an adjective. Remember, as an adverb it describes *when* an action happens (e.g., 'I wake up early'), while as an adjective it describes the timing of a thing or event (e.g., 'an early dinner').

Related Translations

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