Italian Phrase
Ieri era domenica.
Meaning
The sentence states that the day before today was Sunday. It uses the imperfect tense to describe a past condition rather than a completed action.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are talking about the previous day in a narrative, giving context for events that happened after Sunday, or simply confirming the day of the week that has just passed.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ierieradomenica
Ieri (adverb)
Ieri means 'yesterday' and is used to refer to the day before today.
era (imperfetto di essere)
Era is the third‑person singular imperfect of essere, used for past states or ongoing actions.
domenica (noun, fem.)
Domenica means 'Sunday' and is a feminine noun; articles and adjectives agree in gender.
🗨In Conversation
Che giorno era ieri?
What day was it yesterday?
Ieri era domenica.
Yesterday was Sunday.
✕Common Mistakes
Ieri è domenica.
Use a past tense verb (era, è stata) because you are referring to a past day.
Ieri era domenico.
Domenico is a male name; the day of the week is domenica (feminine).
Ieri era domenica ieri.
Repeating ieri is redundant; the time reference is already clear.
↔Alternatives
Ieri è stata domenica.
Yesterday was Sunday.
Ieri era domenica scorso.
Yesterday was last Sunday.
Ieri era domenica, quindi il negozio era chiuso.
Yesterday was Sunday, so the shop was closed.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, many shops and offices are closed on Sunday, especially in smaller towns. When you mention that yesterday was Sunday, listeners often infer that certain services (banks, post offices) were not available. The imperfect (era) is preferred for background information, while the passato prossimo (è stata) stresses the fact as a completed event.