What does afters mean?
"Afters" is an informal British noun referring to the sweet course that concludes a meal — what Americans would call dessert and many Britons might equally call pudding. The word is always plural in form, even when describing a single dish, which gives it a distinctive, colloquial flavor. It belongs firmly to the register of home and hearth rather than fine dining: one asks what's for afters at a family Sunday lunch, not on a restaurant menu. Its charm lies partly in its cozy, slightly old-fashioned connotation, evoking school dinners, childhood treats, and traditional British cooking. The term derives simply from "after," since the sweet course comes after the main course. While widely understood across the English-speaking world thanks to British media, it remains most natural in British speech, where alternatives include "dessert," "pudding," and "the sweet." For learners of English, "afters" is a small but telling marker of informal British usage.
nounA British informal term for the sweet course of a meal; dessert or pudding.
- The dessert or sweet course served at the end of a meal (British informal).
"We finished the roast, then Mrs. Hobbs brought out the afters."
"The children raced through their vegetables, eager to get to the afters."
"There was trifle and custard for afters on Sunday."
The word exists only in its plural form "afters"; there is no singular "after" used to mean dessert, so it behaves like other plurale tantum nouns such as "scissors."
"What's for afters tonight?"
In Britain, the question "What's for afters?" can be the most important part of any dinner invitation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does afters come from?
"Afters" derives straightforwardly from the Old English adverb and preposition "æfter," meaning behind or later in time, combined with the plural suffix -s. The noun arose as a colloquial British contraction of phrases like "after the main course," naming the sweet course that follows dinner. It has been in informal use since at least the nineteenth century. It shares its Germanic root with related formations such as "afterward," "aftermath," and "afterthought."
How afters is actually used
Chiefly British and informal, often used in domestic or nostalgic contexts. In formal writing or menus, "dessert" is preferred. Some speakers use it playfully to evoke childhood or traditional family meals.
Easily confused with afters
"After" is a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning later in time, while "afters" is a plural noun referring specifically to the dessert course of a meal.