l'après-midi
The English phrase "in the afternoon" is translated into French as l'après-midi.
The phrase is used to describe the period of time between noon and evening. While English typically requires a preposition like "in", French speakers often use the noun l'après-midi alone as an adverbial phrase of time to mean "in the afternoon". If you wish to specifically say "during the course of the afternoon", you can use the phrase dans l'après-midi.
What does it mean word for word?
The term l'après-midi is composed of après, meaning "after" and midi, meaning "noon".
Which one should you use?
In English, you say "in the afternoon", but in French, you can often use the definite article and the noun l'après-midi by itself to serve the same purpose.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun l'après-midi can be used as either a masculine or a feminine noun, although the masculine form is more common. To express that something will happen during the course of the afternoon, use the prepositional phrase dans l'après-midi.
Did you know?
- While l'après-midi refers to the time of day, the word midi is also used in France to describe the southern region of the country, specifically the Mediterranean coast.
- In traditional French culture, the 'afternoon' is marked by the goûter, a ritual snack time for children (and some adults) that typically occurs around 4 PM.
- The term midi is a cognate of the English word 'meridian', both coming from the Latin 'medius' meaning 'middle'.
Examples in context
- Que fais-tu l'après-midi ?What do you do in the afternoon?This sentence shows how to ask about activities during the afternoon using l'après-midi.Tatoeba #479607 by sacredceltic, translation #464538 by lukaszpp
- Je pars dans l'après-midi.I'm leaving in the afternoon.This sentence demonstrates the use of l'après-midi to express leaving at that time.Tatoeba #8107361 by Aiji, translation #2264308 by sharptoothed
- Il viendra dans l'après-midi.He will come in the afternoon.This sentence uses l'après-midi to indicate when someone will arrive.Tatoeba #1083210 by nimfeo, translation #12838443 by JeanM
- Je vous attends dans l'après-midiI'll be waiting for you in the afternoon
- La réunion durera toute l'après-midiThe meeting will last all afternoon
- On se retrouve cet après-midiLet's meet up this afternoon
- Je suis disponible toute l'aprèmeI'm available all afternoon
- Je viendrai dans l'après-midi, vers trois heuresI'll come in the afternoon, around three o'clock
- 45 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are discussing their plans for a sunny Saturday.
- EmmaOn se voit l'après-midi ?Shall we see each other in the afternoon?
- LucasOui, l'après-midi me convient très bien.Yes, the afternoon suits me very well.
- EmmaLucas, tu seras libre vers quatorze heures ?Lucas, will you be free around two o'clock?
- LucasOui, je serai là.Yes, I will be there.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
