adverb

mañana

man-YAH-nuh

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Mañana (adverb) means Tomorrow, or at some vague point in the future. In English it is used to suggest a task is being put off indefinitely rather than actually scheduled. Example: “Every time I ask about the invoice, it's mañana.”

adverb

Tomorrow, or at some vague point in the future. In English it is used to suggest a task is being put off indefinitely rather than actually scheduled.

"Every time I ask about the invoice, it's mañana."

"The repairs were promised for mañana, which turned out to mean never."

noun

An attitude of unhurried postponement, treating today's work as something that can wait until tomorrow.

"The whole office runs on mañana."

"He has a mañana approach to deadlines."

How to use mañana

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTomorrow, in the sense of putting something off.

When to use it

Informal in English and usually mildly disparaging, since it plays on a stereotype about southern European working habits. In Spanish itself mañana is entirely neutral and simply means tomorrow or morning. Write it with the tilde where possible; manana is the common ASCII spelling.

Memory tip

The ñ is pronounced like the ny in canyon, so the word is man-YAH-na, not ma-NAN-a.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

mañana → manana → mana →

Common pairings

mañana attitude mañana culture always mañana the mañana habit

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “mañana” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Every time I ask about the invoice, it's _____.

Etymology

From Spanish mañana, meaning both morning and tomorrow, from Latin mane, in the morning.

Origin: Spanish

Synonyms

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tomorrow later some other time in due course procrastination dilatoriness

Antonyms

now today immediately

Related words

now today following later late soon future currently

Rhymes for mañana

ana mana kana Dana nana Cana Rana Tana lana Yana Jana Hana

See all rhymes for mañana →

Frequently asked questions

Does mañana mean tomorrow or morning?

In Spanish it means both. La mañana with the article is the morning, while mañana on its own is tomorrow. English has borrowed only the second sense.

Is calling something mañana rude?

It can be. In English the word is nearly always used to mock delay, and applying it to a country or its people leans on a lazy stereotype. Used about yourself or your own workplace it is harmless self-deprecation.

What is the meaning of mañana?

"mañana" (adverb) means tomorrow, or at some vague point in the future. In English it is used to suggest a task is being put off indefinitely rather than actually scheduled.

What is another word for mañana?

Other words for "mañana" include tomorrow, later, some other time, in due course, procrastination, dilatoriness.

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now today following later late soon future currently