Today
A slightly more formal or emphatic way to say 'today', literally 'the day of today'.
A more formal or literary phrase meaning 'on this day'.
Today is Tuesday.
What are you going to do today?
I don't have classes today.
Today we have an important meeting.
The word 'hoy' is universal in the Spanish-speaking world and is the most common way to say 'today'.
While 'hoy' is standard, 'el día de hoy' is extremely common, even in casual conversation, but especially in professional settings or news broadcasts.
Spaniards almost exclusively use 'hoy'. Using 'el día de hoy' can sound overly formal or even redundant to them.
Similar to Mexico, 'el día de hoy' is frequently used in formal contexts, but 'hoy' remains the standard for everyday, informal speech.
'Hoy' is the standard. 'El día de hoy' is understood but used much less frequently than in countries like Mexico.
Saying 'el hoy'. Example: 'El hoy es mi cumpleaños.' — 'Hoy' is an adverb of time and does not use an article like 'el'. The correct sentence is 'Hoy es mi cumpleaños.'
Pronouncing the 'h'. — The letter 'h' is silent in Spanish. 'Hoy' is pronounced like the English word 'oy', not 'hoy' with an audible 'h' sound.
Confusing 'hoy' (today) with 'ahora' (now). — While related, they are not interchangeable. 'Hoy' refers to the entire 24-hour day, while 'ahora' refers to the present moment. For example, 'Hoy voy al supermercado' (Today I'm going to the supermarket) vs. 'Ahora voy al supermercado' (I'm going to the supermarket right now).
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