Time, days and hours in Catalan

160 words in Catalan on the topic “time, days and hours”: el matí — morning, el dia — day, avui — today, demà — tomorrow. 160 words can be played from recordings.

Updated September 1, 2026 · Lingofly

160 words on the topic

el matí
morning
Its own word — unlike Spanish, where the morning hides inside mañana. Al matí — in the mornings: this is how any day's story begins
el dia
day
Masculine despite the -a: el dia, bon dia. One of the main gender exceptions
avui
today
Stress at the end: uh-BOOY. Avui en dia is "these days", not "today at noon"
demà
tomorrow
From the Latin de mane, 'from morning': tomorrow is what arrives with the new morning. The morning itself is el matí, a word of its own
ahir
yesterday
Stress at the end: uh-EER. Abans-d'ahir — the day before yesterday, literally 'before yesterday'
la tarda
afternoon
Tarda stretches from lunch to dark: the second half of the day and the early evening. After dark, la nit begins
la nit
night
It starts at dark, so a ten o'clock dinner is already a la nit. Hence bona nit too
l'hora
hour
Both the hour as a measure and the time on the clock: quina hora és? And 'one o'clock' is already la una, feminine
primer de tot
first of all
Literally "first of everything": the counting of thoughts begins. Second of all is already near — en segon lloc
en segon lloc
secondly
Literally "in second place": thoughts line up by places, as on a podium. Next: en tercer lloc — if the arguments last
abans de res
above all
Literally "before everything else": thing number one, unnumbered. The most important requests begin so
a més
besides
Literally "in addition": més — more. A més a més — the reinforced variant: and also, and again
per cert
by the way
Literally "by the certain": el cert — the certain thing. A pivot word: say it — and change the topic
en fi
anyway (in short)
Literally "at the end": the thought is out of breath — and en fi closes it. It can also mean "fine, never mind" — by intonation
en resum
in short
Literally "in the summary": the long is folded into a couple of lines. The listener is tired? Say en resum
amb altres paraules
in other words
Literally "with other words": the same thing, but clearer. If you were not understood — do not repeat, retell otherwise
el més important
most importantly
Literally "the most important": important — a relative of import, what "carries in" weight. The most important goes last — there it is heard
al capdavall
in the end
From «cap», end, and «avall», down. Argument over? «Al capdavall, tots dos teníeu raó»
encara que
although
Inside are «encara», still, and «que». If the fact is real, the verb after it is in the ordinary tense
en canvi
on the other hand (but)
Literally "in exchange": you give one thing — you get another. It always comes after the "but": the flat is small, en canvi, bright
al contrari
on the contrary
Literally "toward the opposite": el contrari — the opposite. Al contrari! — a sharp hundred-and-eighty-degree turn of opinion
malgrat
despite
After it — a noun: malgrat la pluja — despite the rain. With que it pulls a whole sentence along
tanmateix
however
A bookish word: "nevertheless" in one word. It goes at the start or in the middle, always with a comma
per una banda
on one hand
Literally "by one side": the reasoning lies on two palms. It waits for its pair — per l'altra banda
per l'altra banda
on the other hand
Literally "by the other side": the second palm of the reasoning. It has come — the arguments are balanced
tot i això
nevertheless
Literally "all with this": the concession is admitted — and still. The colloquial tot i així — the same
en lloc d'això
instead
Literally "in the place of this": el lloc — the place. One action takes the place of another
igualment
all the same
Literally "in equal manner": igual — the same. Igualment, ho faré — I will do it all the same: stubbornness in one word
al principi
at first
Literally "at the beginning": el principi — the beginning. Do not mix it up with primer de tot — that one counts arguments, this one events
després
afterwards
Literally "after": as in després de menjar — after eating. On its own — after everything
després d'això
after that
The same després, with a finger on the event: això — what has already been. The order of events in a story rests on it
finalment
finally
From el final — the end: finally here is 'in the finale'. Finalment! — the exhale after a long wait
mentre
while
One word instead of five: while, whilst. Two actions walk side by side, like two trains on neighboring tracks
alhora
at the same time
Literally "at the one hour": a la hora. Doing everything alhora is a sure way to do nothing
abans que
before (conjunction)
Abans de + noun, abans que + verb: the event is ahead. The border between preposition and conjunction is sharp
després que
after (conjunction)
The pair of abans que: the event is already behind. This is how the story of a past day is built
tan bon punt
as soon as
Inside is «punt», point, moment: event B follows right after event A. Bookish; in speech «quan» is more common
des de llavors
since then
Literally "from then": llavors — then. One meeting — and des de llavors everything changed
sempre
always
Short and reliable, like what it names. Sempre igual — always the same: said with a smile and with a sigh alike
sovint
often
A local word: in Spanish it would be a menudo. It stands by the verb — and honestly confesses a habit
rarament
rarely
The pair of sovint: rarely here is "in a rare manner". Rar — odd: a rare event is always slightly odd
a vegades
sometimes
Literally "in times": la vegada — a time, as in dues vegades al dia, twice a day. Sometimes is "in some times"
mai
never
It works in a pair with no: no… mai — never. At the head of the phrase the no can be dropped: Mai ho faria
normalment
usually
A relative of the norm: usually here is "in norm". This is how one describes one's day until something abnormal happens
molt de temps
a long time
Literally "much time": long here is "much-timed". Ask quan de temps? — and you will be answered the same way
cada vegada
every time
Cada — every; la vegada — a time. Cada vegada més — more and more: the formula of growth
de tant en tant
from time to time
Literally "from so many to so many": time hops from point to point. Rarer than a vegades — but more often than mai
encara ara
to this day
Literally "even now": the event is long — and has not ended. Do not mix it up with the farewell fins ara — see you soon
de sobte
suddenly
Literally "abruptly": sobtat — sudden. In stories it alone turns the plot: I de sobte…
amb antelació
in advance
From Latin ante — before. Tickets and visas are taken amb antelació — later is pricier
a temps
on time
Literally "in time": the same two words as "in-time". Just a temps — just in time, not a second later
urgentment
urgently
From «urgent» plus «-ment». In emails it is written in caps: URGENT
de seguida
right away
Literally "in the wake" — right after the previous. De seguida! — right away!: the answer to any request
gradualment
gradually
A relative of degrees: change here goes "by steps", as on a thermometer. Languages are learned gradualment — alas, without magic
per casualitat
by chance
Literally "by chancehood": la casualitat — chance, a relative of el cas. Per casualitat — an excuse and a miracle in two words
a propòsit
on purpose
Literally "by intention": el propòsit — the intention, like the New Year one. Looks like la propina — the tip, but a different word
a l'últim moment
at the last moment
Literally 'at the last moment': l'últim — the last. Everything most interesting happens exactly there
tard o d'hora
sooner or later
Literally "late or early": Catalan puts the late first. A promise of time: it will happen — if not today, then tomorrow
una vegada
once upon a time
Literally "one time": once here works in a fairy tale and in life alike. The opening of all grandpa's stories
de petit
as a child
Literally "being small": in childhood here is "when I was little". For a woman — de petita: the ending remembers the gender
en aquella època
in those times
Literally "in that epoch": times here are "epochs", even if it is about the nineties. En aquella època no hi havia mòbils — and it is true
va ser fa molt
it was long ago
Literally "it was much [time] ago": time in Catalan is "made" — fa molt. The indefinite past puts the period
la primera vegada
the first time
Literally "the first time": la vegada — a time, a repeat of an event. Vaig volar per primera vegada — an event remembered in details
la intenció
intention
Feminine. «La meva intenció és...» — the polite opening of any plan
el futur
the future
Masculine. «El futur ho dirà» — time will tell: the all-purpose answer about plans
el passat
the past
Masculine, the participle of the "passed". El passat no es canvia — the past cannot be rewritten: a proverb in four words
els plans per aviat
near-term plans
Literally "plans for the soon": per aviat — for the near time. The weekend, the vacation, the move — all are plans per aviat
d'aquí a un any
in a year
Literally "from here in a year": the term is measured "from today". D'aquí a un any tindré el títol — in a year I will have the diploma
canviar d'idea
to change one's mind
Literally "to change the idea": changing one's mind here is "changing the thought". Vaig canviar d'idea a l'últim moment — I changed my mind at the last moment
ajornar el viatge
to postpone the trip
Literally "to postpone the trip": ajornar — to move to another day (jorn — a day). Not a cancellation: the trip simply waits for a better day
tot va segons el pla
everything is on plan
Literally "everything goes according to plan": segons — according to. Said with two intonations: content and heroic
si surt
if it works out
Literally "if it comes out": working out here is "coming out", like a cake from the oven. A clause of any agreement: anem dissabte, si surt
encara no ho he decidit
I have not decided yet
Literally "I have not decided it yet": the perfect here is honest — the decision is not taken even now. Encara — still: the word of all procrastinators
el destí
fate
Masculine, stress on the last syllable. The same word means «destination». «El destí ens va portar aquí» — said of moves and meetings
començar una vida nova
to start a new life
Literally "to begin a new life": it happens without moving too — from Monday. The classic: començar una vida nova en una ciutat nova
tot ha canviat
everything has changed
Literally "everything has changed": the perfect here is right — it changed and stayed so. Said after children are born and renovations done
per a millor
for the better
Literally "for the better": per a — for, in favor of. Ha canviat per a millor — it changed for the better: the phrase of hope
per a pitjor
for the worse
Literally "for the worse": the same construction as per a millor, only downward. They prepare you so: prepara't per a pitjor
constantment
constantly
A relative of the constant — the unchanging: constantly here is "without change". The neighbors with the drill live with it
temporalment
temporarily
From temporal — temporary: the suffix -ment makes the adverb. Vivim temporalment… — this is how all moves begin
el moment adequat
a suitable time
Literally "a suitable moment": adequat — proper. The standing phrase: ara no és el moment adequat — which usually means "never"
fixar una hora
to set a time
Literally "to fix the hour": fixar — to fix, to fasten. An agreement without this word exists only in the mind
canviar la cita
to reschedule the appointment
Literally "to change the appointment": la cita — both the date and the doctor's visit. Rescheduling is a "change": ha canviat la cita al metge
cancel·lar la cita
to cancel the appointment
An international word with the mid-dot. Cancel·la la cita al web — two minutes and no shame
a la tarda
in the afternoon
Literally "in the after-noon": the day is split into matí and tarda, the border is lunch. Tinc hora a la tarda — my appointment is after lunch
cap al vespre
toward evening
Literally "toward the evening": cap a — in the direction of. A soft landmark: arribo cap al vespre is both six and nine
a qualsevol hora
any time
Literally "in any hour": qualsevol — whichever you take. Said generously: truca'm a qualsevol hora — and regretted at two in the morning
no abans de les cinc
not before five
Literally "not before five": abans de — before. The key word of the workaholic: no abans de les cinc, i si pot ser, demà
recorda-m'ho
remind me
Literally "remind me of it": recordar — both to remember and to remind. Two short pronouns stick to the verb: recorda-m'ho
arribaré a l'hora
I will be on time
Literally "I will arrive at the hour": on time here is "at the hour". The contract phrase: awaited at airports and at registries
arribar a temps
to make it in time
Literally "to arrive in time": success here is arrival. Vam arribar a temps — we made it: said with relief
en punt
sharp (on the dot)
Literally "on the point": exactly at the hour, not a minute off. The meeting starts at ten sharp
llavors
then (in that case)
The same llavors as "since then": here it is the "then" of logic. If it rains, then we will lunch indoors
fins que
until
Literally "until that": the endpoint of an action. We will not leave until the concert ends
el més aviat possible
as soon as possible
Literally "as early as possible": the sooner the better, compressed. Call as soon as possible: the places fly away
el segle
the century
A Latin relative: a hundred-year span. This church is of the twelfth century: look at the stones
l'època
epoch
A Greek word — a "holding" of time: an epoch holds its age. It was an epoch of great changes: the town grew
la dècada
decade
From the Greek deca — ten: a decade is a "ten" of years. In a decade the quarter changed beyond recognition
el període
period (span)
A Greek word — a "going around": a period is a circuit of time. We are going through a calm but long period
l'instant
instant
A Latin relative: the instant that "stands within". Everything changed in one instant: the phone rang
prolongat
prolonged
From prolongar — to lengthen: prolonged is "lengthened". They had a prolonged silence, and then they laughed
un dia d'aquests
one of these days
Literally "one day of these": soon, without a date. One of these days we will meet at the market and talk
avui en dia
nowadays
Literally "today in the day": in our times. Nowadays everything is paid by phone, even bread
de tota la vida
for as long as anyone remembers
Literally "of the whole life": the way it has always been. Here bread has been baked this way for as long as anyone remembers
en qüestió de minuts
in a matter of minutes
Literally "in question of minutes": only minutes at stake. The fog lifted in a matter of minutes
actual
present-day
A Latin relative: the current one, of now. The present-day mayor lives on the same street as his grandfather
mil·lenari
thousand-year-old
Literally "of a thousand years": millennial. On the summit there is a thousand-year-old settlement of dry stone
els temps passats
the old days
Literally "the past times": the bygone. Grandma speaks of the old days with a smile
esporàdicament
sporadically
A Greek word — scattered, like sowing: now and then. I come to the town sporadically, two or three times a year
diàriament
daily
From diari — daily: every day. The mail carrier comes daily, except Sunday
regularment
regularly
From regla — the rule: regularly is "by rule". He trains regularly four days a week
per primera vegada
for the first time
Literally "for the first time": the debut. He swims in the pool for the first time and is not afraid
de nou
anew
Literally "of new": again, freshly. Paint the door anew — the first coat did not take
cada cop més
more and more often
Literally "every time more": the growing frequency. More and more neighbors bike to work
entre setmana
on weekdays
Literally "between the weeks": midweek, not on the weekend. On weekdays the café opens at seven, on weekends at nine
una vegada sí i una altra no
every other time
Literally "one time yes and another no": alternating. He pays the tax every other time, and nobody says anything
un cop l'any
once a year
Literally "one time the year": the annual gathering. The whole family gathers once a year, at Christmas
cada dos per tres
every so often
Literally "every two by three": constantly popping up. Every so often the lift stops between floors
mentrestant
meanwhile
Literally "between while": in the intervening time. Dinner bakes in the oven; meanwhile we set the table
paral·lelament
in parallel
Literally "parallelly": side by side in time. In parallel with the construction the bar keeps working
fins aleshores
until then
Literally "until that then": up to that point. He lived with his parents until then, and then left for Girona
posteriorment
subsequently
From post — after: subsequently is "after-ly". They signed the agreement and subsequently published it
el dia abans
the day before
Literally "the day before": the eve. The day before the holiday we cook together
més endavant
later on
Literally "more ahead": further in time. For now we leave it so, and later on we will see
aquesta vegada
this time
Literally "this time": the occasion at hand. This time the train came on time, a miracle
en el moment oportú
in due time
Literally "at the opportune moment": the right moment. They arrived in due time, before the rain
amb efectes retroactius
retroactively
Literally "with backward-acting effects": backdated. The salary raise will be applied retroactively, from January
sense cap demora
without delay
Literally "without any delay": not a minute. Call the ambulance without delay, not a minute
l'any
year
Masculine, with the apostrophe: l'any. The plural is anys: age is counted with it — té vint anys
les vint-i-quatre hores
a full day
Literally 'twenty-four hours': the full day counted honestly. El dia is both day and full day: the context decides
la centúria
century
Feminine, with 'hundred' inside: la centúria — a hundred years as one unit. El segle is the century too: a neighbor word
el minut
minute
Masculine: mi-NUT. Un minut, si us plau — one moment, please: asked the same way as everywhere
el segon
second (time)
The same word as 'second': un segon — a second, dos segons — two seconds. The speaker tells the senses apart
la mitja hora
half an hour
Literally 'the half hour'. In time counts it takes the article: el viatge dura una mitja hora
el migdia
noon
Masculine, literally 'the middle of the day': mig-dia. Al migdia — at noon: the sun at its height and food on the table
la mitjanit
midnight
Feminine, literally 'the middle of the night': mitja-nit. A mitjanit — at midnight: the city goes quiet
ara
now
One short word: ara. The future often hides in the present: ara vinc — I'm coming now
el termini
deadline
Masculine, Latin 'boundary': the term, the time limit. Dins del termini — within the deadline: a word of offices and contracts
el següent
next
Latin 'following after', with a diaeresis: suh-GWEN. La setmana següent — next week
passat
past
'Last' and 'past' in one word: passat. L'any passat — last year: the busiest phrase of the lot
un altre cop
again
Literally 'another time'. El cop — a time, an occurrence, and also a blow
aviat
soon
One word for 'soon' and 'before long': aviat. Fins aviat — see you soon: the farewell uses it too
fa temps
long ago
Literally 'time makes': fa temps. Fa temps que visc aquí — I have lived here a long time: time does its work
fa poc
recently
Literally 'it makes little': not long has passed. The partner of fa temps — long ago
tard
late
Short and honest: tart. Massa tard — too late: with massa, 'too'
d'hora
early
Literally 'of the hour', with the apostrophe: DOruh. The partner of tard — late: d'hora o tard — sooner or later
de pressa
quickly
Literally 'with haste'. The partner of a poc a poc — slowly
fàcilment
easily
From fàcil, easy: fa-seel-MEN. The -ment adverb glues onto the adjective, one ending for all
amb dificultat
with great effort
Literally 'with difficulty'. Respirar amb dificultat — to breathe with effort. The judgment itself is said otherwise: és difícil
tot just
only just
Literally 'merely': the time has not cooled yet. Tot just arribat — only just arrived
al matí
in the morning
El matí is the morning; in the morning is al matí. Cada matí — every morning: the article stays
de dia
by day
Literally 'of the day'. It pairs with de nit, at night: day and night in one glue
al vespre
in the evening
Al VES-pruh — the stretch between the afternoon and the night. Al vespre: a walk, a series
de nit
at night
Literally 'of the night'. La nit is the night — this is its adverb
cada dia
every day
Literally what it says: KAH-duh DEE-uh. Cada, 'each', with its favorite partner
tot el dia
all day
Literally 'all the day'. Tot is 'all' — catch it at work
el moment
moment
Masculine and international: mu-MEN. En aquest moment — at this moment: a bookish turn
el rellotge
clock
Masculine: rruh-LYO-juh — a plain ll here, no mid-dot. El rellotge marca les tres — the clock shows three
el calendari
calendar
Masculine and international: kuh-len-DA-ree. El calendari de la feina — the work calendar
quina hora és
what time is it?
Literally 'which hour is it'. The answer starts with És: És la una — it's one o'clock

Download the word set (CSV) · Open the printable sheet

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How it sounds in a sentence

A word list is a blank. Conversation is made of sentences, and these are the ones the words fit into most often.

What is worth knowing about these words

el matí — morning. Its own word — unlike Spanish, where the morning hides inside mañana. Al matí — in the mornings: this is how any day's story begins.

el dia — day. Masculine despite the -a: el dia, bon dia. One of the main gender exceptions.

avui — today. Stress at the end: uh-BOOY. Avui en dia is "these days", not "today at noon".

demà — tomorrow. From the Latin de mane, 'from morning': tomorrow is what arrives with the new morning. The morning itself is el matí, a word of its own.

Test yourself

First by ear — the way you will meet the word in conversation. Click the speaker and pick the translation.

What is this word?
It is el matí — morning.
What is this word?
It is l'hora — hour.
What is this word?
It is en resum — in short.
What is this word?
It is malgrat — despite.
What is this word?
It is al principi — at first.

Now the other way around: recall the spelling from the meaning. That is harder, and therefore more useful.

How do you say “morning” in Catalan?
Its own word — unlike Spanish, where the morning hides inside mañana. Al matí — in the mornings: this is how any day's story begins
How do you say “hour” in Catalan?
Both the hour as a measure and the time on the clock: quina hora és? And 'one o'clock' is already la una, feminine
How do you say “in short” in Catalan?
Literally "in the summary": the long is folded into a couple of lines. The listener is tired? Say en resum
How do you say “despite” in Catalan?
After it — a noun: malgrat la pluja — despite the rain. With que it pulls a whole sentence along
How do you say “at first” in Catalan?
Literally "at the beginning": el principi — the beginning. Do not mix it up with primer de tot — that one counts arguments, this one events

How to learn the set instead of just reading it

Today, tomorrow, in the morning, at six. You cannot arrange to meet without these — let alone understand the answer.

A list is read in a minute and forgotten in a day. What works: hide the translation, try to recall, get it wrong — and come back to the same words tomorrow.

Recalling beats re-reading. Covering the translation and trying to remember it does more than reading it ten more times.checked many times
Adesope, Trevisan & Sundararajan, 2017, Review of Educational Research 87(3) · 188 experiments, 272 comparisons. g = 0.61; against plain re-reading 0.51, against passive review 0.93.
Study spread over days wins not only in experiments but in ordinary classrooms, with real students.checked many times
Mawson & Kang, 2025, Behavioral Sciences 15(6):771 · 22 studies, d = 0.54 (confidence interval 0.31–0.77). The authors warn that individual studies disagree widely.

Frequently asked

How do you say “morning” in Catalan?

«el matí». Its own word — unlike Spanish, where the morning hides inside mañana. Al matí — in the mornings: this is how any day's story begins. It is one of 160 words in the set “time, days and hours” — the rest are in the table above.

How many time words do you need to start?

The whole set on this page is 160 words, but there is no need to start with all of it: the words you will need in the next few days are enough. Take them a few at a time — five to seven new ones per session.

Is there audio?

Yes, 160 words on this page can be played — click the speaker next to the word. The sound works on any phone, and nothing needs to be installed.

Time, days and hours in Catalan

160 words on the topic

How it sounds in a sentence

What is worth knowing about these words

Test yourself

How to learn the set instead of just reading it

Frequently asked

How do you say “morning” in Catalan?

How many time words do you need to start?

Is there audio?

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