Hi, I’m Kodak.
How do you say “in the morning” in Spanish?
A textbook may teach you:
in the morning
Then you may hear a Spanish speaker say:
in the morning
Later, you encounter:
at eight in the morning
All three expressions contain la mañana, but they do not perform exactly the same grammatical job.
The most important point is this:
The choice between them is often regional rather than a strict difference in meaning.
De la mañana normally identifies something as belonging to the morning, especially a specific clock time.
This article explains the differences from a beginner’s perspective and shows you which expression to use in Spain, Latin America, clock times, habitual actions, and sentences involving “today,” “tomorrow,” or “yesterday.”
I learned that “in the morning” is por la mañana.
Is en la mañana wrong?
No. En la mañana is also correct.
Some Spanish-speaking regions prefer por la mañana, while others commonly use en la mañana.
You should learn the regional preference rather than treating one form as universally wrong.
Do they have exactly the same meaning?
In many ordinary sentences, yes.
Both can place an action within the morning period.
Speakers may feel a slight difference in emphasis, but there is no universal rule that gives each expression a completely separate meaning.
- 1 Por la Mañana vs. En la Mañana vs. De la Mañana: Quick Answer
- 2 1. Por la Mañana Means “In the Morning”
- 3 2. En la Mañana Also Means “In the Morning”
- 4 3. De la Mañana Identifies a Morning Time or Morning Thing
- 5 4. Esta Mañana Means “This Morning”
- 6 5. Hoy por la Mañana and Hoy en la Mañana
- 7 6. Mañana por la Mañana Means “Tomorrow Morning”
- 8 7. Ayer por la Mañana and Ayer en la Mañana
- 9 8. El Lunes por la Mañana
- 10 9. Early in the Morning
- 11 10. Por la Tarde and Por la Noche
- 12 11. “Good Morning” Is Buenos Días
- 13 12. Morning vs. Tomorrow: Mañana Has Two Meanings
- 14 A Complete Morning Schedule
- 15 Common Beginner Mistakes
- 15.1 Mistake 1: Treating En la Mañana as Universally Incorrect
- 15.2 Mistake 2: Using De la Mañana by Itself for “In the Morning”
- 15.3 Mistake 3: Saying A las Ocho Por la Mañana as the Only Possible Form
- 15.4 Mistake 4: Adding a Preposition Before Esta Mañana
- 15.5 Mistake 5: Translating Tomorrow Morning as Only Mañana
- 15.6 Mistake 6: Thinking the Repetition in Mañana por la Mañana Is Wrong
- 15.7 Mistake 7: Saying Buena Mañana as a Greeting
- 15.8 Mistake 8: Assuming Por la Mañana Always Means Every Morning
- 16 Practice Quiz: Por, En, or De la Mañana?
- 17 Frequently Asked Questions
- 17.1 How do you say “in the morning” in Spanish?
- 17.2 Is en la mañana grammatically correct?
- 17.3 What is the difference between por la mañana and en la mañana?
- 17.4 What does de la mañana mean?
- 17.5 How do you say “at eight in the morning” in Spanish?
- 17.6 How do you say “this morning” in Spanish?
- 17.7 How do you say “tomorrow morning” in Spanish?
- 17.8 Why is mañana repeated in mañana por la mañana?
- 17.9 How do you say “yesterday morning” in Spanish?
- 17.10 What is the difference between por la mañana and por las mañanas?
- 17.11 Is five o’clock de la mañana or de la madrugada?
- 17.12 How do you say “good morning” in Spanish?
- 18 Por la Mañana, En la Mañana, and De la Mañana: Summary
- 19 Related Guide
Por la Mañana vs. En la Mañana vs. De la Mañana: Quick Answer
| Expression | Main use | Typical translation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| por la mañana | Places an action during the morning; especially common in Spain and many other regions | in the morning | Trabajo por la mañana. |
| en la mañana | Places an action within the morning period; common in a number of Latin American varieties | in the morning | Trabajo en la mañana. |
| de la mañana | Identifies a clock time, event, or thing as belonging to the morning | in the morning / morning | Son las ocho de la mañana. |
| esta mañana | Refers to the morning of today | this morning | Lo vi esta mañana. |
| mañana por la mañana | Refers to the morning of the next day | tomorrow morning | Salimos mañana por la mañana. |
por la mañana
during the morning period
en la mañana
within the morning period; a regional alternative
de la mañana
of the morning; identifies a time or thing as a morning one
Which expression should I use if I do not know the listener’s country?
Por la mañana is a safe and widely understood choice.
However, do not “correct” native speakers who use en la mañana.
The second expression is standard in regions where it is naturally used.
1. Por la Mañana Means “In the Morning”
Por la mañana is a common adverbial expression that states when an action happens.
An action occurs during the morning time period.
Trabajo por la mañana.
I work in the morning.
Estudio español por la mañana.
I study Spanish in the morning.
La tienda abre por la mañana.
The store opens in the morning.
Te llamaré por la mañana.
I will call you in the morning.
Depending on context, it may describe:
a schedule
a general time period
a future morning already understood from context
one specific morning identified elsewhere in the sentence
Does Trabajo por la mañana mean that I work every morning?
It normally describes your usual schedule: you work during the morning shift or morning period.
To emphasize repeated individual mornings, you can also say Trabajo por las mañanas.
Por la Mañana vs. Por las Mañanas
The singular and plural forms can overlap, but the plural more clearly emphasizes a repeated habit.
I work in the morning.
→ Describes my morning schedule.
Trabajo por las mañanas.
I work in the mornings.
→ Emphasizes repeated mornings.
Siempre hago ejercicio por las mañanas.
I always exercise in the mornings.
Los domingos duermo por la mañana.
On Sundays, I sleep in the morning.
Is por las mañanas always better for habits?
It is often clearer, but por la mañana can also describe a regular schedule.
The difference is similar to “in the morning” versus “in the mornings” in English.
Por la Mañana Does Not Name an Exact Time
Por la mañana gives a general part of the day rather than a precise clock time.
Te llamaré por la mañana.
I will call you in the morning.
Exact time:
Te llamaré a las nueve de la mañana.
I will call you at nine in the morning.
If someone says Te llamo por la mañana, what time should I expect the call?
The sentence does not give an exact hour.
It only places the call within the morning period.
Social context determines whether that means early morning, mid-morning, or sometime before noon.
2. En la Mañana Also Means “In the Morning”
En la mañana is grammatically correct and is commonly used in a number of Spanish-speaking countries.
An action is placed within the morning period.
Trabajo en la mañana.
I work in the morning.
Te llamo en la mañana.
I will call you in the morning.
La reunión será en la mañana.
The meeting will be in the morning.
In regions where this expression is normal, it may perform essentially the same function as por la mañana.
Is en la mañana mainly Latin American Spanish?
It is especially associated with varieties spoken in parts of the Americas.
In Spain, por la mañana is generally the more natural default.
However, Spanish usage varies by country, region, and speaker.
Is There a Meaning Difference Between Por and En?
A useful mental image is:
during or throughout the morning period
en la mañana
within the morning period
However, this is only a learning aid.
In real communication, speakers often choose one or the other because of regional convention—not because they intend a precise contrast between “during” and “within.”
Therefore, avoid rules such as:
“En la mañana is always one specific morning.” ❌
Both expressions can describe habitual or specific actions when the context supports that interpretation.
My textbook says en la mañana is incorrect because Spanish uses por for parts of the day.
The textbook may be teaching the preferred form for a particular regional standard.
That is useful, but it should not be turned into a claim about all Spanish.
En la mañana is accepted and natural in regions where speakers regularly use it.
En la Mañana with a Specified Day
En la mañana frequently appears with a phrase identifying which morning is meant.
En la mañana del lunes tendremos una reunión.
On Monday morning, we will have a meeting.
El accidente ocurrió en la mañana de ayer.
The accident happened yesterday morning.
La noticia se publicó en la mañana de hoy.
The news was published this morning.
These structures are especially common in journalistic, administrative, and formal language in some regions.
In ordinary conversation, shorter alternatives are often possible:
Monday morning
ayer por la mañana
yesterday morning
esta mañana
this morning
Is en la mañana de hoy more formal than esta mañana?
It often sounds more formal, journalistic, or administrative.
In everyday conversation, esta mañana is shorter and more natural in most contexts.
3. De la Mañana Identifies a Morning Time or Morning Thing
De la mañana does not normally function as a direct replacement for por la mañana.
The preposition de connects a time, event, object, or person with the morning.
“Of the morning” or “belonging to the morning.”
Its two most important uses are:
2. Describing a morning event, edition, shift, program, or activity
Can I say Trabajo de la mañana to mean “I work in the morning”?
Not as the normal equivalent of “I work in the morning.”
Say Trabajo por la mañana or, according to region, Trabajo en la mañana.
De la mañana usually needs something before it that it describes.
De la Mañana After a Clock Time
In the twelve-hour clock system, de la mañana clarifies that the stated hour belongs to the morning.
Son las ocho de la mañana.
It is eight in the morning.
La clase empieza a las diez de la mañana.
The class starts at ten in the morning.
Me desperté a las seis de la mañana.
I woke up at six in the morning.
The complete time structure is:
a las siete de la mañana
at seven in the morning
The first a introduces the clock time. The phrase de la mañana identifies which part of the day the hour belongs to.
Why isn’t it a las ocho por la mañana?
A las ocho por la mañana can be understood and is possible in some contexts.
However, a las ocho de la mañana is the standard compact way to identify eight as a morning hour.
The hour “belongs to” the morning, which explains de.
De la Mañana vs. A. M.
Spanish can use either words or abbreviations to distinguish morning from afternoon or evening.
8:00 a. m.
las ocho de la tarde
8:00 p. m. in some contexts
las ocho de la noche
8:00 p. m.
The division between tarde and noche varies with context, daylight, region, and social convention.
Does de la mañana always come after a number?
No.
It can also describe a morning event, program, newspaper edition, shift, or other noun.
In those cases it often translates as the adjective “morning.”
De la Mañana Describing a Noun
la reunión de la mañana
the morning meeting
el programa de la mañana
the morning program
el turno de la mañana
the morning shift
las noticias de la mañana
the morning news
el café de la mañana
the morning coffee
Here, de la mañana answers a question such as “Which meeting?” or “Which shift?”
Trabajo por la mañana.
I work in the morning.
Noun description:
Prefiero el turno de la mañana.
I prefer the morning shift.
What is the difference between La reunión es por la mañana and la reunión de la mañana?
La reunión es por la mañana tells us when the meeting takes place.
La reunión de la mañana identifies which meeting you mean—the morning one rather than the afternoon one.
4. Esta Mañana Means “This Morning”
To refer to the morning of the current day, Spanish normally uses:
this morning
Lo vi esta mañana.
I saw him this morning.
Esta mañana he hablado con Ana.
I spoke with Ana this morning.
¿Qué hiciste esta mañana?
What did you do this morning?
No preposition is normally needed before esta mañana.
Should I say en esta mañana because English says “in this morning”?
No. English also normally says “this morning,” without “in.”
Spanish likewise says esta mañana.
A preposition may appear in special structures, but it is unnecessary in the ordinary time expression.
Esta Mañana and Verb Tense
The tense used with esta mañana can vary by region and by whether the speaker views the morning period as connected to the present.
Esta mañana he desayunado temprano.
I ate breakfast early this morning.
Esta mañana desayuné temprano.
I ate breakfast early this morning.
Both patterns occur in the Spanish-speaking world. The preferred past tense depends partly on the regional variety.
5. Hoy por la Mañana and Hoy en la Mañana
You can make the reference to today explicit:
this morning / today in the morning
hoy en la mañana
this morning / today in the morning
Hablé con ella hoy por la mañana.
I spoke with her this morning.
Hablé con ella hoy en la mañana.
I spoke with her this morning.
The regional preference between por and en remains.
In most ordinary contexts, esta mañana communicates the same information more briefly.
Is there a difference between esta mañana and hoy por la mañana?
They usually refer to the same morning.
Hoy por la mañana makes “today” explicit and may create a stronger contrast with another day or another part of today.
Esta mañana is normally the simpler choice.
6. Mañana por la Mañana Means “Tomorrow Morning”
The word mañana can mean either:
tomorrow — an adverb
Therefore, the standard expression:
literally combines:
por la mañana = in the morning
Salimos mañana por la mañana.
We are leaving tomorrow morning.
Te llamo mañana por la mañana.
I will call you tomorrow morning.
La reunión será mañana por la mañana.
The meeting will be tomorrow morning.
Although the repetition may sound strange to an English learner, it is completely natural because the two instances of mañana perform different jobs.
Doesn’t mañana por la mañana sound like saying “morning in the morning”?
Only if you translate both words as “morning.”
The first mañana means “tomorrow.”
The second is part of por la mañana, meaning “in the morning.”
Mañana En la Mañana
In regions where en la mañana is the normal expression, you may hear:
Te llamo mañana en la mañana.
I will call you tomorrow morning.
This is the regional counterpart of:
Te llamo mañana por la mañana.
I will call you tomorrow morning.
Both are understandable. Choose the form natural to the variety of Spanish you are learning.
Can I say only Te llamo mañana?
Yes, but it means only “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
It does not specify whether the call will be in the morning, afternoon, or evening.
Add por la mañana or en la mañana when the morning matters.
7. Ayer por la Mañana and Ayer en la Mañana
To say “yesterday morning,” Spanish can use:
ayer en la mañana
Llegó ayer por la mañana.
He or she arrived yesterday morning.
Llegó ayer en la mañana.
He or she arrived yesterday morning.
The choice again reflects regional usage.
A more formal or journalistic version is:
Llegó en la mañana de ayer.
He or she arrived yesterday morning.
Which is more natural: ayer por la mañana or en la mañana de ayer?
In everyday speech, ayer por la mañana or the regional ayer en la mañana is usually simpler.
En la mañana de ayer often sounds more like news reporting or formal writing.
8. El Lunes por la Mañana
To combine a day of the week with a part of the day, Spanish commonly uses:
on Monday morning
La cita es el martes por la mañana.
The appointment is on Tuesday morning.
Llegaremos el sábado por la mañana.
We will arrive on Saturday morning.
In regions favoring en la mañana, you may hear:
La cita es el martes en la mañana.
The appointment is on Tuesday morning.
A more formally bounded construction is:
La cita es en la mañana del martes.
The appointment is on Tuesday morning.
Why does Spanish say el lunes instead of using a word for English “on”?
Spanish normally uses the definite article with days of the week.
El lunes means “on Monday.”
The phrase por la mañana then narrows Monday to its morning period.
9. Early in the Morning
To emphasize that something happens early, add temprano.
Me levanto temprano por la mañana.
I get up early in the morning.
Salimos muy temprano en la mañana.
We left very early in the morning.
You can also simply say:
Me levanto temprano.
I get up early.
If the time is before sunrise or during the very early hours after midnight, Spanish may use de madrugada.
during the morning
temprano por la mañana
early in the morning
de madrugada
in the very early morning hours / before dawn
Nos levantamos a las cuatro de la madrugada.
We got up at four in the morning.
Salimos al amanecer.
We left at dawn.
Is five o’clock de la mañana or de la madrugada?
Usage can overlap and depends on whether speakers view that hour as part of the night-before-dawn period or as the beginning of the morning.
Las cinco de la madrugada strongly emphasizes the very early, pre-dawn hour.
Las cinco de la mañana is also widely understandable.
10. Por la Tarde and Por la Noche
The same regional pattern appears with other parts of the day.
| Common with por | Regional alternative with en | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| por la mañana | en la mañana | in the morning |
| por la tarde | en la tarde | in the afternoon |
| por la noche | en la noche | at night / in the evening |
Trabajo por la tarde.
I work in the afternoon.
Trabajo en la tarde.
I work in the afternoon.
If a country uses en la mañana, does it always use en la tarde and en la noche too?
The pattern often extends to the other parts of the day, but individual usage can still vary.
Observe the expressions used by speakers in the region you are studying rather than assuming every speaker follows an identical system.
11. “Good Morning” Is Buenos Días
Although mañana means “morning,” the normal Spanish greeting is:
Good morning.
Do not normally translate “good morning” word for word as:
Buenos días is the established greeting used during the morning.
Why doesn’t Spanish say buena mañana?
Because greetings are established expressions and cannot always be translated word for word.
The conventional Spanish greeting is buenos días.
Learn greetings as complete phrases.
12. Morning vs. Tomorrow: Mañana Has Two Meanings
Beginners may confuse the noun la mañana with the adverb mañana.
the morning
mañana
tomorrow
Me gusta la mañana.
I like the morning.
Te veo mañana.
I will see you tomorrow.
The article la is an important clue that mañana is the noun meaning “morning.”
If someone says only mañana, how do I know whether it means “morning” or “tomorrow”?
Look at the grammar and surrounding words.
La mañana, esta mañana, and por la mañana refer to the morning.
A standalone mañana modifying the whole sentence normally means “tomorrow.”
A Complete Morning Schedule
I work in the morning.
Entro a las ocho de la mañana.
I start at eight in the morning.
La reunión de la mañana empieza a las diez.
The morning meeting starts at ten.
Esta mañana tenemos tres reuniones.
This morning, we have three meetings.
Mañana por la mañana trabajo desde casa.
Tomorrow morning, I am working from home.
Each expression serves a different purpose:
places the work within the morning period
de la mañana
identifies eight as a morning hour and identifies the meeting as a morning meeting
esta mañana
identifies today’s morning
mañana por la mañana
identifies tomorrow’s morning
Can you give me one final memory rule for all three main expressions?
Use por la mañana or the regional en la mañana to say when an action happens.
Use de la mañana to label an hour or noun as belonging to the morning.
Remember: during the morning, within the morning, of the morning.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Treating En la Mañana as Universally Incorrect
Trabajo en la mañana.
I work in the morning.
Also correct and widely used:
Trabajo por la mañana.
I work in the morning.
The difference is often regional.
Mistake 2: Using De la Mañana by Itself for “In the Morning”
Trabajo de la mañana. ❌
Correct:
Trabajo por la mañana.
Trabajo en la mañana.
Use de la mañana after something it identifies:
el turno de la mañana
Mistake 3: Saying A las Ocho Por la Mañana as the Only Possible Form
The most standard compact expression for an exact morning hour is:
Mistake 4: Adding a Preposition Before Esta Mañana
Lo vi en esta mañana.
Natural:
Lo vi esta mañana.
I saw him this morning.
Mistake 5: Translating Tomorrow Morning as Only Mañana
I will call you tomorrow.
Te llamo mañana por la mañana.
I will call you tomorrow morning.
Mistake 6: Thinking the Repetition in Mañana por la Mañana Is Wrong
The two instances have different meanings:
second mañana = morning
Mistake 7: Saying Buena Mañana as a Greeting
Buenos días. ✅
Good morning.
Mistake 8: Assuming Por la Mañana Always Means Every Morning
The expression can describe a habit or one specific morning. Context determines the interpretation.
Normalmente estudio por la mañana.
I normally study in the morning.
Specific future morning:
Te llamaré por la mañana.
I will call you in the morning.
Practice Quiz: Por, En, or De la Mañana?
Complete each sentence with the most suitable expression.
1. Normalmente trabajo _____.
2. Son las nueve _____.
3. Prefiero el turno _____.
4. Te llamo mañana _____.
5. Lo vi _____.
6. La reunión será el lunes _____.
7. En algunas regiones se dice “trabajo _____”.
8. El noticiero _____ empieza a las siete.
9. Salimos a las cinco _____.
10. Siempre corro _____.
11. Hablé con ella ayer _____.
12. ¿Qué hiciste _____?
Quiz Answers and Explanations
This gives the usual period when the person works. In regions where it is normal, en la mañana is also possible.
2. de la mañana
The phrase identifies nine as a morning hour.
3. de la mañana
It identifies which work shift the speaker prefers.
4. por la mañana
Mañana por la mañana means “tomorrow morning.” The regional form mañana en la mañana is also possible.
5. esta mañana
This refers to today’s morning and normally requires no preposition.
6. por la mañana
El lunes por la mañana means “Monday morning.” Regional alternatives with en are possible.
7. en la mañana
This is the regional alternative being illustrated.
8. de la mañana
It describes the morning news program.
9. de la mañana or de la madrugada
The choice depends on whether the speaker categorizes five o’clock as morning or the pre-dawn period.
10. por la mañana
This describes the period when the habitual exercise occurs. Por las mañanas is also natural.
11. por la mañana
Ayer por la mañana means “yesterday morning.” The regional ayer en la mañana is also possible.
12. esta mañana
No preposition is normally required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say “in the morning” in Spanish?
The most widely taught expression is por la mañana. En la mañana is also correct and is commonly used in a number of Spanish-speaking regions.
Is en la mañana grammatically correct?
Yes. It is a standard regional expression. Some countries prefer en la mañana, while others prefer por la mañana.
What is the difference between por la mañana and en la mañana?
Both normally mean “in the morning.” You can imagine por as “during” and en as “within,” but in real usage the choice is often regional rather than a strict semantic distinction.
What does de la mañana mean?
De la mañana means “of the morning” or identifies something as belonging to the morning. It is especially common after clock times, as in las ocho de la mañana, and in noun phrases such as el turno de la mañana.
How do you say “at eight in the morning” in Spanish?
Say a las ocho de la mañana. The preposition a introduces the clock time, while de la mañana identifies it as a morning hour.
How do you say “this morning” in Spanish?
Say esta mañana. A preposition is not normally required.
How do you say “tomorrow morning” in Spanish?
A common expression is mañana por la mañana. In regions that prefer en la mañana, speakers may say mañana en la mañana.
Why is mañana repeated in mañana por la mañana?
The first mañana means “tomorrow,” while the second refers to “the morning” as part of the expression por la mañana.
How do you say “yesterday morning” in Spanish?
You can say ayer por la mañana or, depending on the region, ayer en la mañana.
What is the difference between por la mañana and por las mañanas?
Por la mañana can describe a general morning schedule or one contextually identified morning. Por las mañanas more clearly emphasizes a repeated habit occurring on multiple mornings.
Is five o’clock de la mañana or de la madrugada?
Both may occur depending on regional usage and how the speaker conceptualizes the hour. De la madrugada emphasizes that it is a very early, pre-dawn time.
How do you say “good morning” in Spanish?
The standard greeting is Buenos días, not Buena mañana.
Por, En, De, or Nothing Before “La Mañana”?
Four different jobs share the same three words. Find the job first.
a las ocho de la mañana / el turno de la mañana — “belongs to the morning.”
No preposition needed: Lo vi esta mañana.
Salimos mañana por la mañana. — stack the day word in front.
Widely understood everywhere; the safe default if you don’t know the region. or en la mañana
Just as correct — common in a number of Latin American varieties.
※ Por la mañana and en la mañana are not a right/wrong pair — they are regional twins. De la mañana never substitutes for either; it always attaches to a time or a noun.
Por la Mañana, En la Mañana, and De la Mañana: Summary
Means “in the morning” and places an action during the morning period.
Trabajo por la mañana.
● En la mañana
Also means “in the morning” and is common in a number of regional varieties.
Trabajo en la mañana.
● The difference between por and en is often regional
Do not treat one expression as universally correct and the other as universally wrong.
● De la mañana
Identifies a clock time or noun as belonging to the morning.
a las ocho de la mañana
el turno de la mañana
● Esta mañana
Means “this morning” and normally requires no preposition.
● Mañana por la mañana
Means “tomorrow morning.”
● Ayer por la mañana
Means “yesterday morning.”
● Por las mañanas
Emphasizes a repeated habit in the mornings.
● Buenos días
Is the standard way to say “good morning.”
Do not reduce this topic to “por la mañana is correct and en la mañana is wrong.”
Both forms belong to standard Spanish usage, but different regions prefer different prepositions.
Use de la mañana for a morning clock time or to describe a morning event, shift, or program.
FundéuRAE, “en la mañana.”
FundéuRAE, “ayer tarde, expresión adecuada.”
FundéuRAE, guidance on writing clock times in the twelve-hour system.
Real Academia Española and Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española, Diccionario de la lengua española and Diccionario panhispánico de dudas.
Related Guide
Want the full picture of how por and para divide up the work in Spanish? Read our main guide: Por vs. Para: Rules, Tricks, and Examples.
