de l'après-midi
In French, the way to express "pm" is de l'après-midi.
The phrase de l'après-midi is used to indicate that a time occurs in the afternoon or evening. While you can use this to specify a time, note that French speakers frequently use the 24-hour clock (for example, 18h) to avoid any ambiguity.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase de l'après-midi literally translates to "of the afternoon".
Which one should you use?
de l'après-midi is used to distinguish afternoon or evening times, whereas du matin is used to indicate "am" or times in the morning.
When do people say it?
If you are referring specifically to the late evening hours, you might use the phrase Dans la soirée, which translates to "in the evening".
Did you know?
- The term après-midi is used as a greeting bon après-midi only when leaving someone, whereas bonsoir is used when arriving in the evening.
- Depending on the region, après-midi can be treated as either a masculine or feminine noun without changing the meaning of the phrase.
- While English uses 'pm' as an abbreviation, writing pm in a French text is often viewed as an anglicism. To be truly French, one should write out de l'après-midi or simply rely on the 24-hour clock.
Examples in context
- Sami a reçu un appel à 6 heures de l'après-midi.Sami received a phone call at 6 pm.This sentence is useful for seeing how to specify a time with de l'après-midi.Tatoeba #10711008 by xhlulu, translation #6711146 by OsoHombre
- Il arrivera à deux heures de l'après-midiHe will arrive at two o'clock PM.
- On se voit à deux heures de l'aprèmSee you at two o'clock PM.
- Le rendez-vous est à 3 heures de l'après-midi.The appointment is at 3 pm.
- Elle arrive vers 5 heures de l'après-midi.She arrives around 5 pm.
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel are discussing a meeting time.
- ManonÀ quelle heure est la réunion ?What time is the meeting?
- GabrielC'est à 2 heures de l'après-midi.It is at 2 pm.
- ManonGabriel, tu seras là ?Gabriel, will you be there?
- GabrielOui, je serai prêt.Yes, I will be ready.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
