The German word for “afternoon” is Nachmittag. To say “in the afternoon” or “during the afternoon,” use am Nachmittag.
afternoon in German = Nachmittag or am Nachmittag, pronounced approximately NAHKH-mit-tahk / ahm NAHKH-mit-tahk.
How Do You Say afternoon in German?
Der Nachmittag is the afternoon as a part of the day. The preposition plus article am means “in the” or “on the” for a time of day: am Nachmittag means “in the afternoon.”
Meaning: afternoon; in the afternoon
Use Nachmittag as a noun and capitalize it. Say am Nachmittag when describing when something happens, as in Ich arbeite am Nachmittag (“I work in the afternoon”).
Different Ways to Express afternoon
The noun names the period, while the phrase with am is used to place an activity in that period. To give an exact hour, see hour in German.
1. Der Nachmittag — the afternoon
der Nachmittag — the afternoon. This is a masculine compound noun. German capitalizes nouns, including Tageszeit words.
2. Am Nachmittag — in the afternoon
am Nachmittag — in the afternoon. Am is a contraction of an + dem; compare the time uses of an in on in German. It is the usual phrase for saying when an activity takes place.
3. Nachmittags — in the afternoons
nachmittags — in the afternoon; afternoons. This adverb often describes a recurring routine or a general time of day.
4. Heute Nachmittag — this afternoon
heute Nachmittag — this afternoon. German often uses the time noun directly after heute without a preposition.
afternoon in German: Quick Comparison
Use this comparison to choose the form that best fits your sentence. Pay attention to whether you are counting, describing a quality, or referring to a particular situation.
| German | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| der Nachmittag | the afternoon | Naming the time period |
| am Nachmittag | in the afternoon | Time expressions |
| nachmittags | in the afternoon; afternoons | Regular habits |
| heute Nachmittag | this afternoon | Specific days |
How to Pronounce Nachmittag or am Nachmittag
Nachmittag is approximately NAHKH-mit-tahk. The ch after a is a throaty sound, and the final g is often pronounced like k in standard German. Stress the first part of the compound.
Example Sentences Using afternoon
Read each example aloud and notice how the surrounding words give the phrase its exact meaning. The English translation is natural rather than a strict word-for-word rendering.
Meaning: I’ll call you in the afternoon.
Use: Am Nachmittag marks when the call will happen.
Meaning: I am free this afternoon.
Use: Heute Nachmittag refers to a specific afternoon.
Meaning: We go for a walk in the afternoons.
Use: The adverb suggests a recurring routine.
Frequently Asked Questions About afternoon in German
Tap a question below to see the answer.
How do you say “afternoon” in German?
The noun is der Nachmittag.
How do you say “in the afternoon”?
Use am Nachmittag.
Why is it <em>am Nachmittag</em>?
Am is a contraction of an dem, commonly used with times of day.
What does <em>nachmittags</em> mean?
It means “in the afternoon” or “in the afternoons,” often for a regular routine.
How do you say “this afternoon”?
Say heute Nachmittag.
Summary: afternoon in German
Use der Nachmittag for the afternoon as a noun, am Nachmittag for “in the afternoon,” and nachmittags for a regular afternoon routine. German capitalizes the noun.
