Italian Phrase
Che giorno era ieri?
Meaning
This phrase is the standard way to ask about the specific day of the week that has just passed. It employs the imperfect tense of the verb 'essere' to describe a past state or time. It is a foundational sentence for anyone learning to navigate time and dates in Italian.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are disoriented regarding the calendar or need to confirm a deadline that passed. It is appropriate for both casual and formal settings when checking the date.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Chegiornoeraieri
Che (Interrogative Adjective)
In this context, 'che' acts as an adjective modifying 'giorno' to mean 'what' or 'which'.
Era (Imperfect Tense)
This is the third-person singular imperfect form of 'essere'. It is used here because time in the past is viewed as a continuous state.
🗨In Conversation
Che giorno era ieri?
What day was yesterday?
Ieri era domenica, quindi oggi è lunedì.
Yesterday was Sunday, so today is Monday.
✕Common Mistakes
Che giorno è ieri?
The present tense 'è' cannot be used with 'ieri' (yesterday); you must use the past tense 'era'.
Cosa giorno era ieri?
Use 'Che' or 'Quale' when asking 'what' or 'which' before a noun like 'giorno'.
↔Alternatives
Quale giorno era ieri?
Which day was yesterday?
Ieri che giorno era?
Yesterday, what day was it?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, when discussing the past relative to time or weather, the imperfect tense (era) is almost always preferred over the remote past. Italians are generally relaxed about time, but knowing the correct day is essential for navigating shop hours and local festivals.