What does apres mean?
'Après' is the French word for 'after', adopted into English almost exclusively through fixed borrowings rather than as a free-standing preposition. By far its best-known use is in 'après-ski', which denotes the socializing, dining, and drinking that follow a day on the slopes; by extension, the term lends a touch of continental sophistication to any post-activity scene, from beach clubs to conference mixers. Because it retains its French spelling and flavor, 'après' signals leisure, style, and a certain cosmopolitan polish, making it a favorite of travel and lifestyle writers. It also survives in the famous phrase 'après moi, le déluge' — 'after me, the flood' — attributed to Louis XV as a remark of heedless extravagance. For English speakers, then, 'après' is less a working preposition than a small, evocative piece of France embedded in the language, instantly conjuring warm lodges, clinking glasses, and the pleasant exhaustion at the end of a day's sport.
After (a specified event or time), used only within borrowed French expressions such as 'après-ski'.
"Après le dîner, the guests moved to the lounge for coffee."
Rarely used productively in English; confined to established French loan phrases.
Describing the period, activities, or atmosphere following an event, especially the socializing after skiing ('après-ski').
"The hotel's après-ski scene is legendary among regular visitors."
English borrowed 'après' whole from French — so when you hit the après-ski bar, you're literally speaking a little French without changing languages.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of apres
'Après' comes directly from French, where it developed from Vulgar Latin '*ad pressum', literally 'pressed close to', formed from the Latin verb 'premere' (to press) — the same root that gives English words such as 'press', 'pressure', and 'suppress'. English borrowed the word wholesale in set phrases, with 'après-ski' entering the language in the mid-twentieth century as Alpine skiing became a fashionable pastime. Its other notable appearance, 'après moi, le déluge', preserves an older French idiom associated with Louis XV.
Related word forms
How apres is actually used
'Après' is almost never used alone in English; it appears almost exclusively within loan phrases imported from French, most famously 'après-ski'. It carries a connotation of leisure, sophistication, and continental flair, and is common in travel writing, ski culture, and lifestyle journalism. Pronunciation varies between an anglicized /ˈæpreɪ/ and a more French-faithful /ˈɑːprɛ/.