NEW MATCH • A2+ Upper Beginner Temas da atualidade NEW FILL-IN • B1 Intermediate Encontro às cegas NEW COMPLETION • A2+ Upper Beginner Cada um com o seu estilo NEW LISTEN • B1 Intermediate Encontro às cegas NEW COMPLETION • A2 Beginner Pequenos mistérios da natureza NEW FILL-IN • A2 Beginner Campeões do sono NEW ORDERING • A2+ Upper Beginner Subida do salário mínimo NEW LISTEN • A2 Beginner Campeões do sono NEW FILL-IN • B1 Intermediate Arrendar ou comprar? NEW ORDERING • A2+ Upper Beginner Menos viagens, mais família NEW LISTEN • B1 Intermediate Arrendar ou comprar? NEW ORDERING • B1 Intermediate Três meses à espera NEW COMPLETION • A2+ Upper Beginner Coisas do banco NEW FILL-IN • A2 Beginner Um dia sem internet NEW LISTEN • A2 Beginner Um dia sem internet NEW FILL-IN • A2 Beginner Uma rotina quase perfeita
Reads

Your Portuguese Learning Library. One Read at a Time.

Built for the hard part of European Portuguese.

Best for learners A2 and up who can read the language but still struggle to follow real speech and sound natural.

start free

No card required

Portuguese “Last” and “Next” Time Expressions (Weeks, Months, Years)

LEVEL A2 Beginner TOPIC Other topics adverbials

Most Portuguese learners are well acquainted with hoje, ontem and amanhã, but get stuck when they need to say “last” and “next” with weeks, months, or years.

Let’s learn the most common way to say

  • this week / last week / next week
  • this month / last month / next month
  • this year / last year / next year

in Portuguese.

Weeks

  • esta semana = this week
  • a semana passada = last week
  • a próxima semana = next week

These expressions often come at the start of the sentence to set the time reference, but they can also appear at the end. Most of the time, the position is flexible and the meaning stays the same.

Also, depending on the sentence, you’ll use em contracted with the definite article. For example, a semana passada often appears as na semana passada (em + a = na).

Examples:

  • Estou no Algarve esta semana.
  • I’m in the Algarve this week.
  • A semana passada foi complicada.
  • Last week was complicated.
  • Na próxima semana vou ao dentista.
  • Next week I’m going to the dentist.

Months

The same logic applies to months.

  • este mês = this month
  • o mês passado = last month
  • o próximo mês = next month

Examples:

  • A Rita vai casar-se este mês.
  • Rita is getting married this month.
  • A Rita casou-se no mês passado.
  • Rita got married last month.
  • O próximo mês é um mês especial: a Rita vai-se casar.
  • Next month is a special month: Rita is getting married.

Years

Yet again, the same logic applies to years.

  • este ano = this year
  • o ano passado = last year
  • o próximo ano = next year

Examples:

  • Este ano faço 50 anos.
  • This year I’m turning 50.
  • Fiz 50 anos no ano passado.
  • I turned 50 last year.
  • No próximo ano vou fazer 50 anos.
  • Next year I’ll be turning 50.

Beyond weeks, months and years

You can apply the same pattern to days of the week, holidays, and even events. Here are a few examples:

  • Vamos passar o próximo Natal no Brasil.
  • We’re going to spend next Christmas in Brazil.
  • No Domingo passado fomos até Esposende.
  • Last Sunday we went to Esposende.
  • O próximo jogo é contra o Manchester United.
  • The next match is against Manchester United.

Related content you might find useful

Real European Portuguese is harder than the textbook

If you can read Portuguese but real speech is still hard to follow, Portuguesepedia is built for that gap. A deep library of real EP audio, organized by level and topic, with AI-powered practice built in.

start free

No card required.

What learners say

I love the mix of formats. The listening pieces, short reads, exercises, and idioms cover different angles, so I don't get stuck doing the same thing. It keeps me coming back.

~ Olivia ~

It doesn’t feel like studying in the boring sense. The tone is light, but the practice is solid, and I’ve noticed I can put sentences together more easily.

~ Giulia ~

Everything feels well put together. I'll listen to something at my level, check a quick explanation when I'm confused, and then do a practice exercise. Everything I need is in one place and easy to find.

~ Liam ~

Portuguese used to feel messy, like I was putting in effort but not getting results. With Portuguesepedia, I can focus on what I actually need, and I’ve started noticing real improvement week by week.

~ Ebba ~

Something clicked after a few weeks. Real Portuguese started making more sense — not just on paper, but when I'm actually listening. I hadn't felt that kind of progress before.

~ Maria ~

I’d been trying to learn Portuguese for years, but I never felt confident using it. Textbooks were too much, and speaking classes made me freeze. With Portuguesepedia, things finally started to make sense.

~ Emely ~