Après is likely the first word you learned to say “after” in French. But did you know there are many other ways to express this common concept?

To sound more like a native speaker and add nuance to your conversations, it’s incredibly helpful to know these different options.

Let’s dive into 9 ways to say “after” in French, so you can enrich your vocabulary and express yourself with greater precision!

The most common 'after' – après

The most common “after” – après

Après is the most fundamental and widely used French word for “after”, indicating sequence in time or order.

As a preposition, après is followed by a noun, a pronoun (often a stressed pronoun like moi, toi, lui, elle, nous, vous, eux, elles), or a numeral. It signifies "after" in terms of time or position.

When you want to say “after doing something” in French, you cannot follow après directly with an infinitive. Instead, you must use the construction après avoir (after having) or après être (after being) followed by the past participle of the verb. This is known as the infinitif passé.

While après can sometimes function adverbially, its primary role is as a preposition. For adverbs meaning "then" or "next" in a sequence of actions, you’ll often use ensuite or puis. Après introduces a phrase, while ensuite and puis stand alone.

Après can also be used as an adverb, typically at the end of a clause, meaning “afterward” or “later”. For example, Il est arrivé et je suis parti juste après. (He arrived and I left just afterward.)

You'll find après in many common expressions, such as après-midi (afternoon), jour après jour (day after day), or un après-coup (an afterthought).

💡 * Je te verrai après le travail. (I will see you after work.)

• Après avoir mangé, nous sommes allés nous promener. (After eating, we went for a walk.)
• Elle est partie après moi. (She left after me.)
• Qu'est-ce que tu fais après ? (What are you doing afterward/later?)
• C'est la vie après la mort. (It's life after death.)

The 'then' or 'afterwards' (sequential) – ensuite

The “then” or “afterwards” (sequential) – ensuite

Ensuite is a fundamental French adverb meaning “then” or “afterwards.” It is essential for linking actions or events in a chronological or logical sequence.

The primary function of ensuite is to clearly indicate that one action, event, or step follows another. It establishes a definite order, signifying 'next in the series' rather than a consequence.

You will frequently encounter ensuite when listening to or giving instructions (like a recipe or directions), or when recounting a series of events in a story. It acts as a clear marker of progression.

Consider a typical daily routine: 'Je me lève, je prends mon petit-déjeuner, ensuite je pars au travail.' (I get up, I have breakfast, then I leave for work.) It smoothly connects these consecutive actions.

While alors can sometimes be translated as 'then,' it often implies a consequence or a logical conclusion ('so, therefore'). Ensuite, however, strictly focuses on temporal or procedural succession, making it ideal for step-by-step descriptions.

Effectively using ensuite will greatly improve your ability to communicate clear instructions, describe sequences of events accurately, and build coherent, easy-to-follow narratives in French.

💡 * D'abord, mélangez les ingrédients, ensuite ajoutez le lait. (First, mix the ingredients, then add the milk.)

• Je suis allé au marché, ensuite j'ai acheté du pain. (I went to the market, then I bought some bread.)
• Elle a fini ses devoirs, ensuite elle est sortie avec ses amis. (She finished her homework, then she went out with her friends.)
• Nous avons visité le Louvre, ensuite nous avons dîné. (We visited the Louvre, then we had dinner.)

The 'then' or 'subsequently' (another sequential option) – puis

The 'then' or 'subsequently' (another sequential option) – puis

Puis is a common French adverb used to indicate sequence, meaning 'then' or 'subsequently'. It serves to link actions or events in chronological order.

It is frequently employed to connect actions or events that happen one after another, providing a clear chronological flow in narration or instructions.

While similar to ensuite, puis often suggests a slightly more direct or immediate follow-up. Both can frequently be used interchangeably, but puis can sometimes carry a slightly more formal or literary tone.

Puis can be found in both formal and informal speech and writing. It is a versatile word, though ensuite might be slightly more common in very casual, everyday spoken French.

It typically appears at the beginning of a clause or sentence to introduce the subsequent action, or between two clauses to connect them sequentially.

💡 * Je mange, puis je bois. (I eat, then I drink.)

• Elle a fini son travail, puis elle est partie. (She finished her work, then she left.)
• D'abord, nous irons au marché, puis nous préparerons le dîner. (First, we'll go to the market, then we'll prepare dinner.)
• Il a lu le livre, puis il a écrit un résumé. (He read the book, then he wrote a summary.)

The 'subsequently' or 'thereafter' – par la suite

The French phrase par la suite translates to 'subsequently,' 'thereafter,' 'later on,' or 'in the aftermath' in English. It indicates an action or event that follows another.

Par la suite is often used to describe a sequence of events, emphasizing that something happened after a previous action or period. It provides a chronological link.

While not overly formal, par la suite carries a slightly more structured tone than simpler temporal adverbs like plus tard (later). It can be used in both written and spoken French.

Beyond mere chronology, par la suite can sometimes imply a consequence or result stemming from a preceding event, giving it a slightly stronger connection than just 'later'.

💡 * Il a étudié le droit et est devenu avocat par la suite. (He studied law and subsequently became a lawyer.)

• Elle a déménagé à Paris et, par la suite, a trouvé un emploi. (She moved to Paris and, subsequently, found a job.)
• Le projet a été retardé, mais il a été achevé par la suite. (The project was delayed, but it was completed thereafter.)
• J'ai d'abord visité la tour Eiffel, et par la suite, le Louvre. (I first visited the Eiffel Tower, and subsequently, the Louvre.)

The 'following' or 'as a result of' – suite à

The 'following' or 'as a result of' – suite à

The French phrase suite à directly translates to 'following' or 'as a result of'. It functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating that one event or action occurs directly after, or as a consequence of, another.

Suite à is primarily used to introduce a consequence or an event that happens as a direct result of something else. It effectively explains the 'why' or 'what came next' in a causal chain.

While commonly heard in everyday conversation, suite à often carries a slightly more formal or administrative tone compared to simpler alternatives like à cause de (because of). It's frequently found in official communications, news reports, and professional contexts.

It is crucial to remember that suite à is always followed by a noun or a noun phrase, never a verb. For example, you would say suite à l'accident (following the accident), but not suite à il est tombé.

💡 * Suite à votre demande, nous avons procédé au remboursement. (Following your request, we processed the refund.)

• L'avion a été retardé suite à un problème technique. (The plane was delayed as a result of a technical problem.)
• Suite aux inondations, de nombreuses routes sont impraticables. (Following the floods, many roads are impassable.)
• Elle a démissionné suite à un désaccord avec la direction. (She resigned following a disagreement with the management.)

The 'following' or 'in the wake of' – à la suite de

The French phrase à la suite de literally translates to 'in the series of' or 'in the follow-up of', and is used to express the idea of something happening 'following' or 'in the wake of' something else.

Primarily, à la suite de indicates a temporal or sequential relationship, meaning 'after' or 'following' in terms of chronological order. It highlights that one event or action occurs directly subsequent to another.

Beyond simple sequence, it can also imply a causal or consequential relationship, meaning 'as a result of' or 'in the wake of' a particular event, often with a sense of impact or aftermath. This usage is common when discussing significant events or changes.

À la suite de is a prepositional phrase that is always followed by a noun or a pronoun. It functions similarly to 'after' or 'following' in English, connecting an event or state to what preceded it.

💡 *À la suite de l'accident, la route a été fermée. (Following the accident, the road was closed.)
*Il a pris la parole à la suite du président. (He spoke after the president.)
*De nombreuses réformes ont été mises en œuvre à la suite de la crise. (Many reforms were implemented in the wake of the crisis.)
*Elle est partie à la suite de son ami. (She left following her friend.)

The 'after' (as a conjunction for an event) – après que

To express 'after' as a conjunction, specifically when referring to an event or action that has taken place, the French phrase to use is après que.

Literally meaning 'after that', après que introduces a subordinate clause describing an action that occurs after the action in the main clause. It's often followed by a verb in a past tense.

A very important rule to remember is that après que is always followed by the indicative mood, not the subjunctive. This is a common mistake among French learners, who often confuse it with similar conjunctions that do require the subjunctive.

💡 *Après qu'il a fini son travail, il est rentré chez lui. (After he finished his work, he went home.)
*Elle a appelé ses parents après qu'elle est arrivée. (She called her parents after she arrived.)
*Nous irons au cinéma après que tu auras mangé. (We will go to the cinema after you have eaten.)
*Après qu'ils eurent signé le contrat, ils se sont serré la main. (After they had signed the contract, they shook hands.)

The 'after a period of time' – au bout de

The French phrase au bout de literally translates to "at the end of" and is commonly used to express "after a period of time" or "at the end of a duration."

It specifically highlights the completion of a time frame, indicating that something happens once that duration has passed. It's often followed by a specific time measurement (e.g., "au bout de deux heures").

While similar to après (after), au bout de often implies a more definitive completion or the result of a process taking a certain amount of time. Think of it as "at the conclusion of" rather than just "subsequently."

You'll frequently encounter au bout de when discussing waiting times, results of actions taking a specific duration, or the eventual outcome after a set period.

💡 *Au bout de trois jours, il a enfin reçu la lettre. (After three days, he finally received the letter.)
*Le projet sera terminé au bout d'un mois. (The project will be finished after one month.)
*Au bout de quelques minutes, le train est arrivé. (After a few minutes, the train arrived.)
*Elle a compris la leçon au bout de plusieurs explications. (She understood the lesson after several explanations.)

The 'at the end of' or 'following' (formal) – à l'issue de

The French expression à l'issue de translates to 'at the end of', 'following', or 'upon completion of'. It indicates that something happens immediately after a specific event or period concludes.

This phrase carries a distinctly formal tone, making it common in administrative, legal, journalistic, or professional contexts. It's less frequently used in casual everyday conversations, where simpler alternatives like après (after) might be preferred.

À l'issue de is always followed by a noun, typically referring to an event, a discussion, a period, or a process. For instance, you might say à l'issue de la réunion (at the end of the meeting) or à l'issue du contrat (at the end of the contract).

💡 *À l'issue de la réunion, une décision sera prise. (At the end of the meeting, a decision will be made.)
*Le rapport sera publié à l'issue de l'enquête. (The report will be published following the investigation.)
*Les résultats seront annoncés à l'issue du vote. (The results will be announced at the end of the vote.)
*Le nouveau règlement prendra effet à l'issue de la période d'essai. (The new regulation will take effect at the end of the trial period.)

Are there other ways to say 'after' in French?

Are there other ways to say ‘after’ in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say ‘after’ in French, like après, ensuite, and puis. But French, being a rich and nuanced language, offers many other expressions and constructions that convey the idea of succession or consequence, depending on the formality, region, or specific context.

You can explore further by doing an online search for ‘comment exprimer la succession en français’ or ‘synonymes d’après’ to uncover more formal or literary alternatives. You might also find regional variations in how time sequences are expressed.

When you encounter new phrases or words for 'after,' always make sure to check their precise meaning and usage in a dictionary. Pay close attention to how native speakers use them in different sentences to grasp their nuances and avoid miscommunication.

Immerse yourself in French media — books, films, podcasts, and conversations. You'll naturally pick up on diverse ways to express 'after' and understand the subtle differences in their application. Context is key!

For a deeper dive into the various adverbs, conjunctions, and phrases that mean 'after' or express succession, the WordReference entry for après or related terms like ensuite and puis can be incredibly insightful.

I hope this article has provided a solid foundation for understanding how to say 'after' in French. Remember, mastering these nuances takes time and practice. As the French proverb says: Après la pluie le beau temps. (After the rain, good weather) – a reminder that good things often follow difficulties, much like understanding a new language!