popołudnie
/pɔ.pɔˈwud.ɲɛ/neuter
The Polish word for afternoon is popołudnie.
The noun popołudnie refers to the part of the day between noon and evening. It is used to describe the period of time itself.
Meaning: part of the day between noon and evening (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word popołudnie is a compound of po (after) and południe (noon/midday).
Which one should you use?
While popołudnie refers to the period of time, the two-word phrase po południu is a prepositional phrase meaning 'in the afternoon'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using a preposition like w (in) to say 'in the afternoon', the word changes to the locative form popołudniu.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɔ.pɔˈwud.ɲɛ/. The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
When do people say it?
In formal situations during the afternoon, you can use the phrase Miłego popołudnia to say 'have a nice afternoon' as a farewell. For a general formal greeting that can be used throughout the day, including the afternoon, use Dzień dobry.
Did you know?
- The connection between 'noon' and 'south' exists because the sun is at its highest point in the southern sky for people in Poland.
- Using Miłego popołudnia is typically a way to say goodbye, rather than a way to say hello when meeting someone.
- In Polish, po południu can be used as an adverb, meaning you do not need to add a word for 'in' to the start of the phrase.
Examples in context
- Jak tam minęło popołudnie?How was your afternoon?This sentence shows how to ask about the quality of someone's popołudnie.Tatoeba #961499 by zipangu, translation #953355 by CK
- Gdzie byłeś całe popołudnie?Where have you been all afternoon?This sentence is useful for asking about someone's whereabouts during the entire popołudnie.Tatoeba #865997 by Igliwie, translation #1582799 by marcelostockle
- Będziemy tu całe popołudnie.We're going to be here all afternoon.This sentence demonstrates using the word to describe a duration of time.Tatoeba #4940335 by aleksandraeska, translation #4919036 by CK
- Dzień dobry! Bardzo dobrze, dziękuję. Miłego popołudnia!Good day! Very well, thank you. Have a nice afternoon!
- Cześć! Wszystko dobrze, dzięki. Dobrego popołudnia!Hi! Everything's fine, thanks. Have a good afternoon!
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Paweł and Agnieszka are discussing their plans for the day.
- PawełCo robisz w dzisiejsze popołudnie?What are you doing this afternoon?
- AgnieszkaIdę na spacer do parku.I'm going for a walk in the park.
- PawełMoże pójdziesz tam ze mną?Maybe you'll go there with me?
- AgnieszkaDobry pomysł, do zobaczenia później!Good idea, see you later!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “afternoon” translations and entries popołudnie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
