If you have said "I met him today morning" your whole life, hearing that it is wrong can sting a little. The phrase sounds clear. Everyone around you says it. Here is the gentle truth: this is one of the most common time-word slips, and almost nobody learns the fix on purpose. You did nothing careless. You picked up a pattern by ear, the way most of us learn to speak. The good news is the correction is tiny. You swap one small word, and the sentence comes out clean. Let us sort out "today morning" and a few of its friends, with zero shame.
Quick answer: "Today morning" is not standard English. The correct phrase is "this morning." For the past, say "yesterday morning"; for the future, "tomorrow morning." Use "today" alone for the whole day. So say "I called this morning," not "I called today morning." The fix is simple: pair "morning," "afternoon," and "evening" with "this," "yesterday," or "tomorrow," not with "today."
Why is "today morning" wrong?
Because English already has a single word for the morning of the present day: "this morning." When you add "today" in front of "morning," you are stacking two time words that do the same job.
❌ "I woke up early today morning." ✅ "I woke up early this morning."
❌ "She left today morning." ✅ "She left this morning."
❌ "We had a meeting today morning." ✅ "We had a meeting this morning."
Think of it this way. "This" already points to the day you are in. So "this morning," "this afternoon," and "this evening" all mean the present day. "Today" is for the whole day as one block, like "I am busy today." When you want a part of today, use "this," not "today."
Common mistakes
❌ "He came today afternoon." ✅ "He came this afternoon."
❌ "Call me today evening." ✅ "Call me this evening."
The fix never changes. Swap "today" for "this" before morning, afternoon, or evening. Nothing else in the sentence moves.
What about yesterday and tomorrow mornings?
Good news here. For the day before and the day after, the words you likely use are already correct.
❌ "I saw her yesterday night." ✅ "I saw her last night."
✅ "I saw her yesterday morning." (this one is right)
✅ "Let us meet tomorrow morning." (also right)
So "yesterday morning," "yesterday afternoon," and "yesterday evening" are all fine. The same goes for "tomorrow morning," "tomorrow afternoon," and "tomorrow evening." The one to watch is "yesterday night," which is not standard. For the night before, say "last night."
❌ "It rained yesterday night."
✅ "It rained last night."
A simple map: yesterday and tomorrow team up with morning, afternoon, and evening. But for the present day, switch to "this." And for the past night, use "last night." For more of these everyday slips, see the list of 20 common mistakes Indians make.
Say this, not that
❌ "today morning" ✅ "this morning"
❌ "today night" ✅ "tonight"
❌ "yesterday night" ✅ "last night"
When can I just say "today"?
Use "today" on its own when you mean the day as a whole, not a slice of it.
✅ "I am working from home today."
✅ "Today was a long day."
✅ "Did you eat today?"
In these, you are not pointing to morning, afternoon, or evening. You mean the full day, so "today" alone is perfect. The trouble only starts when you tie "today" to a part of the day. That is when "this" steps in.
❌ "I will finish it today evening." ✅ "I will finish it this evening." (or just "today" if any time is fine)
❌ "Let us talk today morning." ✅ "Let us talk this morning."
So "today" is not a bad word. It is a great word in its own place. Just keep it away from "morning," "afternoon," and "evening."
Common mistakes
❌ "I am free today morning only." ✅ "I am free this morning."
❌ "The class is today afternoon." ✅ "The class is this afternoon."
How do I tailor this to my daily talk?
Watch the few time phrases you say most and swap the word as you speak.
- Making plans: "Let us meet this evening." "Are you free this afternoon?"
- Sharing news: "I heard it this morning." "The package came this afternoon."
- At work: "I sent the email this morning." "The call is this evening."
- For the night: "I will see you tonight." "It happened last night."
A handy habit: when you are about to say "today" before a part of the day, pause and reach for "this" instead. "Today morning" turns into "this morning." With a little practice, your mouth will pick "this" on its own, and the swap will feel natural.
Say it out loud (2-minute practice)
Say these aloud so the correct version becomes your default:
- This morning: "I woke up early this morning. I called him this morning. This morning was quiet."
- This afternoon: "Let us meet this afternoon. The class is this afternoon."
- This evening: "Call me this evening. I will finish it this evening."
- Tonight and last night: "See you tonight. It rained last night."
- Today alone: "I am busy today. Today was a long day."
- Repeat tomorrow using sentences from your own day.
Two minutes a day trains your mouth to reach for "this" before parts of the day. If you want kind, guided practice while you tidy up habits like this, start with the FirstWords speaking course, built for learners cleaning up small slips without any pressure.
A quick word on the fear
If "this morning" feels odd at first, that is completely normal. "Today morning" was said all around you, so it grew to feel like real English. Saying it is not a sign of weak English. It is a sign that you learned English by listening to the people near you, which is a natural and smart way to learn. Plenty of fluent speakers grew up with this exact habit. It never once stopped anyone from understanding you. So there is nothing to feel bad about. You are simply polishing one small word, and each swap makes you sound a touch crisper.
Mini-FAQ
Is "today morning" ever correct?
No, not in standard English. For the morning of the present day, always say "this morning." Save "today" for the whole day, as in "I am free today."
Why is "yesterday night" wrong but "yesterday morning" fine?
English simply settled on "last night" for the night before, while "yesterday morning" and "yesterday evening" stayed in use. It is a habit of the language, not a strict logic. Say "last night."
Can I say "tomorrow morning"?
Yes. "Tomorrow morning," "tomorrow afternoon," and "tomorrow evening" are all correct and common. The same is true for "yesterday morning" and "yesterday afternoon."
Will people misunderstand me if I say "today morning"?
No. Listeners follow your meaning with ease. This fix is about sounding polished and sure, not about being understood. So change it calmly, with no rush.
Your next step
Time-word habits are some of the quickest fixes in spoken English, because you swap rather than learn a big rule. Pick one, like saying "this morning" instead of "today morning," and say it out loud a few times today. It will soon come out right on its own. Each small swap makes your English a little cleaner and your voice a little surer. If you want a warm, judgment-free place to practise fixes like this, explore the FirstWords English program and go one small win at a time.
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