hier

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yesterday, yesterday, recently, in the past
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العربية الفصحى
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/jɛʁ/
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The day before today, or a time in the recent past.
Practice using hier in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Ce métier était rare hier.
    This profession was rare until recently.
  • J'ai passé hier à la maison.
    I spent yesterday at home.
  • Je suis arrivé hier.
    I arrived yesterday.
  • Cette idée semblait étrange hier encore.
    This idea seemed strange until recently.
  • Le souvenir d'hier reste vif.
    The memory of yesterday remains vivid.

Similar words

récemment
récemment
la veille
la veille
récemment
la veille

Meanings

On the preceding day

adverb
time
neutral
On the calendar day immediately before today.

Examples

  • Je suis arrivé hier.
    I arrived yesterday.
  • Il a plu hier.
    It rained yesterday.
  • Nous avons vu Marie hier.
    We saw Marie yesterday.
  • Le magasin était fermé hier.
    The shop was closed yesterday.
  • Tu m'as appelé hier ?
    Did you call me yesterday?

Similar words

la veille
récemment

The preceding day as a noun

noun
time
neutral
The day before today considered as a time or date.

Examples

  • Hier était un jour férié.
    Yesterday was a holiday.
  • La réunion était pour hier.
    The meeting was scheduled for yesterday.
  • Entre hier et aujourd'hui, tout a changé.
    Between yesterday and today, everything changed.
  • J'ai passé hier à la maison.
    I spent yesterday at home.
  • Le souvenir d'hier reste vif.
    The memory of yesterday remains vivid.

Similar words

la veille
récemment

In the recent past

adverb
time
neutral
At a time not long ago, sometimes contrasted with the present.

Examples

  • Cette idée semblait étrange hier encore.
    This idea seemed strange until recently.
  • Les habitudes d'hier changent vite.
    The habits of the recent past change fast.
  • Hier, on écrivait davantage de lettres.
    Not long ago, people wrote more letters.
  • Ce métier était rare hier.
    This profession was rare until recently.
  • Le monde d'hier paraît lointain.
    The world of the past seems distant.

Similar words

la veille
récemment

Etymology

From Latin heri, ‘yesterday’.

FAQ

What does hier usually mean?

Yesterday, the day before today.

Can it mean the recent past?

Yes. It can refer to a time not long ago.

Is hier an adverb or a noun?

Both, though the adverb is most common.

Does its spelling change?

No. It stays hier.

Is the h pronounced?

No. French h is silent here.

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