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

  • passer l’éponge

    ByFast French

    Passer l’éponge means literally to pass the sponge, but in slightly better English it would be to wipe the sponge. The English saying it most closely resembles would be “to wipe the slate clean.” It means to restart from zero, to forgive, or to forget disagreeable acts. The expression dates back to the start of…

  • proche vs près de

    ByFast French

    The French word proche is an adjective and sometimes a noun. It describes closeness in space, time, or relationships. A related phrase, près de, also indicates physical or figurative nearness, but it is not exactly the same. Understanding the difference helps choose the right expression in context. 1. Physical closeness or nearness Proche can describe…

  • verlan

    ByFast French

    Verlan is a form of French slang created by inverting syllables within words. The term verlan itself comes from l’envers (“the reverse”), reversed phonetically. It’s like changing “flipside” to “sideflip.” Verlan is mostly used in informal spoken French, often to mark social identity, humour, or secrecy. While once associated with street slang, many verlan words…

  • slang phrases

    ByFast French

    If you’ve ever listened to French people chatting informally, you’ll know that much of what they say doesn’t appear in textbooks. Here’s a practical list of French slang expressions you’re likely to hear — all with phonetic pronunciation and clear English meanings. 🗣️ Table of French Slang Expressions French Expression Pronunciation (approx.) Meaning in English…

  • arriver vs se passer

    ByFast French

    meanings Arriver means “to happen” or “to occur.” It points to a single event or result.Se passer also means “to happen,” but it focuses on how something unfolds or goes. Arriver can also mean “to arrive” at a place. Se passer never has that meaning. usage of arriver for events Use arriver for a specific…

  • pousser un cri

    ByFast French

    Pousser un cri is a common French phrase. It means to let out a cry, or to utter a cry. The cry may be loud or soft. It may show fear, pain, shock, joy, anger, or surprise. The verb pousser normally means to push. In this phrase, it means to produce or utter a sound….