später
/ˈʃpɛːtɐ/
The German word for 'later' is später. Wiktionary also lists nachher.
Meaning: afterward in time (adv)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| später | /ˈʃpɛːtɐ/ /ˈʃpeːtɐ/ |
| nachher | /ˈnaːxˌheːɐ̯/ /ˌnaːxˈheːɐ̯/ |
The term 'later' is expressed as später, which functions as an adverb meaning afterward in time. In informal conversation, you can even use Später as a standalone word to mean 'later'.
Which one should you use?
While both words refer to a time after the present, nachher implies a much shorter interval of time, often meaning 'later today' or 'in a little while'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word später is the comparative form of the adjective spät (late).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃpɛːtɐ/
When do people say it?
When saying goodbye, you might use Bis später! to mean 'See you later!' if you expect to see the person again later that same day. Other related expressions include bis bald for 'see you later' and Bis zum nächsten Mal for 'until next time'.
Did you know?
- The word nachher is built from nach, meaning 'after', and her, which indicates movement towards the speaker.
- The phrase später einmal is often used by parents to avoid saying 'no' to a child, acting as a polite way to postpone a request indefinitely.
- In some regions, nachher is used specifically for things happening within the same calendar day, while später can refer to any point in the future, including years from now.
Examples in context
- Ruf mich später an!Call me later.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of später in an imperative command.Tatoeba #873078 by jakov, translation #2245026 by CK
- Ich hole es später.I'll get it later.This sentence shows how to use später to describe a future action.Tatoeba #8791564 by Yorwba, translation #2549110 by CK
- Ich rufe später an.I'll ring later.This sentence demonstrates the placement of später in a simple sentence.Tatoeba #12471760 by mhr, translation #12476344 by sundown
- Ich muss los. Bis später!I have to go. See you later!
- Können wir das später besprechen?Can we discuss this later?
- Vielen Dank für das Meeting. Bis später!Thank you for the meeting. See you later!
- Danke für den schönen Abend. Bis zum nächsten Mal!Thanks for the lovely evening. Until next time!
- 944 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Laura are discussing their plans for the afternoon.
- MaximilianGehen wir später spazieren?Shall we go for a walk later?
- LauraJa, das ist eine gute Idee.Yes, that is a good idea.
- MaximilianWann hast du Zeit?When do you have time?
- LauraVielleicht etwas später am Nachmittag.Maybe a bit later in the afternoon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “later” translations and entries später, nachher, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nachher, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
