después
Lemma Details
Translation: after; afterward; afterwards; later; then; subsequently
Part of Speech: adverb
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'de post' meaning 'from after'. The Latin 'post' (after) is related to English words like 'posterior', 'postpone', and 'postscript'. The 'de-' prefix (from) combined with 'post' evolved into 'después' in Spanish, showing how the concept of 'after in time or sequence' was expressed through spatial metaphor ('from behind').
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'de-' (from) + 'post' (after) = 'después' (afterward)
- Remember the English word 'post' (as in 'post-event') to recall that 'después' means 'after'
- The 'pués' in 'después' sounds a bit like 'post' to help remember its meaning
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
A fundamental time marker in Spanish, 'después' is used in everyday conversation to indicate sequence. Unlike English, which often uses 'then' for sequence, Spanish speakers consistently use 'después' or its synonyms to mark temporal progression.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'después' means 'after' or 'later', 'antes' means the opposite: 'before' or 'earlier'. They are direct antonyms but look somewhat similar.
Confused word:
Llegaré antes de las cinco.
I'll arrive before five.
Notes: In sequences, 'antes' and 'después' are often used as a pair to indicate 'before' and 'after'.
Mnemonic: Remember: 'después' has the letter 'p' which comes after 'a' in the alphabet, just as 'después' means 'after'.
Explanation: 'Después' (after) indicates a point in time following something, while 'desde' (since, from) indicates a starting point in time or space.
Notes: Both words can be used with 'de' but have different meanings: 'después de' (after) vs. 'desde' (from/since).
Mnemonic: 'Desde' has the same first two letters as 'desde el principio' (from the beginning), helping you remember it means 'from' or 'since'.