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How to Say "the past" in Spanish

English → Spanish

pasado

/pa-SA-do//paˈsa.ðo/

NounA2General
Use 'pasado' when referring to the general concept of time that has already occurred, often in a historical or personal reflection context.
A solitary figure standing on a bright, clear path, looking toward the future. The path immediately behind them is covered in a gentle, sepia-toned mist, symbolizing the past.

Examples

Es importante no olvidar el pasado.

It's important not to forget the past.

Ella tiene un pasado difícil, pero es muy fuerte.

She has a difficult past, but she is very strong.

Déjalo en el pasado y sigue adelante.

Leave it in the past and move on.

Always 'el pasado'

When used as a noun to mean 'the past', it's a masculine word. You will almost always see it with 'el' in front of it: 'el pasado'.

ayer

/ah-yair//aˈʝeɾ/

NounB2General
Use 'ayer' specifically when referring to the day before today, but it can also be used metaphorically to mean 'a time gone by' or 'yesterday's concerns' when contrasting with the present.
A gentle hand holding a single, slightly faded, sepia-toned photograph of an old, nostalgic scene, representing the concept of the past.

Examples

El ayer ya no importa, solo el presente.

The past (literally yesterday) no longer matters, only the present.

No podemos vivir en el ayer.

We can't live in yesterday (in the past).

Using 'El Ayer'

When 'ayer' is used to mean 'the past' as a general idea, it acts like a noun. This means you'll almost always see 'el' in front of it: 'el ayer'.

Confusing 'pasado' with 'ayer'

The most common mistake is using 'ayer' when you simply mean 'the past' in a general sense. Remember that 'pasado' is the default and most common translation for the general concept of 'the past'. 'Ayer' is more specific, referring to the actual day before today, or a more poetic/emphatic reference to a time gone by.

Related Translations

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