Beyond hier and demain

ByFast French

Translating “the day before,” “tomorrow,” and “the day after” into French

You may already know the French words “hier” (yesterday) and “demain” (tomorrow). French offers several expressions to convey concepts like “the day before,” “tomorrow,” and “the day after.” Each has its unique nuances depending on the context.

1. “The day before”

The English phrase “the day before” can be translated as la veille in French. This term is often used in storytelling or reporting events in the past. It implies the day that precedes a specific point in time.

Explanation:

  • La veille comes from the verb veiller, meaning “to stay awake,” but in this context, it refers to “the eve” or “the previous day.”
  • It is used without an article when referring generally to “the day before yesterday” (discussed later).

Examples:

  • Il est arrivé la veille.
    (He arrived the day before.)
  • La veille de son anniversaire, elle était très excitée.
    (The day before her birthday, she was very excited.)

2. “Tomorrow”

The word “tomorrow” is translated as demain in French. It is straightforward and commonly used to refer to the day following today.

Explanation:

  • Demain is an adverb and does not change based on gender or number.
  • It can also be used metaphorically to refer to a near or distant future.

Examples:

  • Nous partons demain matin.
    (We’re leaving tomorrow morning.)
  • Demain est un autre jour.
    (Tomorrow is another day.)

Proverbs and Idioms:

  • À demain!
    (See you tomorrow!)
  • Remettre à demain ce qu’on peut faire aujourd’hui.
    (To put off until tomorrow what one can do today.)

3. “The day after”

The French equivalent of “the day after” is le lendemain. It is frequently used in narratives to refer to the day following a specific event or moment.

Explanation:

  • Le lendemain is a noun that literally translates to “the next day.”
  • It’s often paired with events mentioned in the past or future, providing temporal context.

Examples:

  • Le lendemain de la fête, tout le monde était fatigué.
    (The day after the party, everyone was tired.)
  • Nous avons continué notre voyage le lendemain.
    (We continued our journey the next day.)

Temporal Contexts and Related Expressions

“Yesterday” vs. “The day before”

While “yesterday” translates to hier, the difference between hier and la veille lies in the narrative perspective:

  • Hier refers to the actual calendar day before today.
  • La veille references the day before a past or future event.

Example:

  • Hier, il a neigé. (Yesterday, it snowed.)
  • La veille de Noël, il a neigé. (The day before Christmas, it snowed.)

Other Temporal Expressions

  • “The day after tomorrow” → Après-demain
    Nous partirons après-demain. (We’ll leave the day after tomorrow.)
  • “The day before yesterday” → Avant-hier
    Je l’ai vu avant-hier. (I saw him the day before yesterday.)

Summary Table

English PhraseFrench TranslationNotes
The day beforeLa veilleUsed for past/future narrative contexts
TomorrowDemainGeneral term for the next day
The day afterLe lendemainUsed in storytelling or planned events
The day before yesterdayAvant-hierRefers to two days ago
The day after tomorrowAprès-demainRefers to two days ahead

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • coeur d’artichaut

    ByFast French

    “Coeur d’artichaut” is a French saying that translates literally as “heart of artichoke” or “artichoke heart.” What it really means is someone who falls in love easily, or it can also mean someone who is fickle in love. An artichoke is a vegetable with tough leaves on the outside and a much softer centre. Comparing…

  • creaking

    ByFast French

    Both grincer and craquer describe sounds made by objects under stress, but they refer to different types of noise. Grincer describes a high-pitched, harsh, and often continuous sound . It is the sound of friction between hard, smooth surfaces. Craquer describes a sharper, shorter, and drier sound. It is often the sound of something breaking,…

  • whatever

    ByFast French

    The English word “whatever” can be an adjective, a pronoun, or even an interjection. Due to its various meanings, there is no single equivalent of “whatever” in French. Instead, different expressions must be used depending on context. 1. To Mean “Anything That” / “No Matter What” In this usage, “whatever” introduces an indefinite or open…

  • I hope so

    ByFast French

    Translating “I hope so” into French The English phrase “I hope so” has several French equivalents, each adding a different nuance or level of emphasis. Depending on the tone, level of optimism, or formality, you can use different expressions to convey “I hope so” in French. Here’s a guide to the most common translations and…

  • installer

    ByFast French

    The French verb “installer” is a versatile verb that serves multiple purposes in everyday French. Its meanings and uses can change significantly depending on whether it is used in its non-reflexive form or in its reflexive counterpart, “s’installer.” Meanings of “installer” The Reflexive Form: “s’installer” The reflexive form “s’installer” shifts the focus to the subject…

  • questions

    ByFast French

    Asking questions in French can be done in several ways, ranging from very formal to very informal. The choice of structure depends on the context, the level of formality, and the degree of emphasis or clarity desired. There are three main structures for forming a question when no interrogative pronoun or adverb is involved. Subject-verb…