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I could say "I am leaving the day after tomorrow," but what if I want to reference the night before last night? Do I say, "I left the night before last night"? What do native speakers say both formally and informally in particular? I researched the question but could not find a clear definite answer, and I do not want to speculate.
learner
Posted 2013-11-15T09:06:22.900
Reputation: 6 070
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The phrase the night before last night is exactly how I'd reference it, although, in many contexts – and that includes informal contexts – I'd typically leave off the second night:
I left the night before last.
J.R.
Posted 2013-11-15T09:06:22.900
Reputation: 108 123
3It is also common to use the day of the week as a reference. For example, if today is Friday, I would say "I left Wednesday night". "The night before last" is usually good, but it can get confusing if you have this conversation very early in the morning/very late at night when "last night" starts to become ambiguous. – Gray – 2013-11-15T15:59:09.340
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overmorrow and ereyesterday are the two related words that might be of interest, but they are not in (common) use anymore. Source: Wiktionary
As mentioned in snailboat's comment, do not use these words as they are obsolete.
R-D
Posted 2013-11-15T09:06:22.900
Reputation: 113
5I wouldn't recommend learners use either of these words, as they're not likely to be understood in most contexts. (Both words are obsolete, as Wiktionary notes.) They're great words, though! – snailplane – 2013-11-15T14:44:14.263
Absolutely, but I provided the answer for completeness. – R-D – 2013-11-15T14:54:16.507
Has English ever had words for one day farther than that, I mean "the day after overmorrow" and "the day before ereyesterday". – Juya – 2018-12-16T06:31:43.807
1You can also say: two nights ago. Or 3/4/... nights ago. – None – 2016-05-25T18:29:04.673
5note in many languages there are specific words for "day after tomorrow" or "day before yesterday", but not in English - don't seek them in vain. – SF. – 2013-11-15T10:06:34.440