depois

Depois is a Portuguese adverb meaning after, later, or subsequently. It denotes temporal succession and is used to refer to a time that follows another event or moment in a sequence.

Origin and grammar: The word comes from a combination of de and pois, with pois historically linked to Latin post. In Portuguese, depois is commonly followed by de to form the prepositional phrase depois de, which marks an action that occurs after another: “Depois de terminar o relatório, ele enviou-o.”

Usage and construction: Depois can function as an adverb on its own, as in “Chegamos tarde; depois fomos ao cinema.” It also appears in phrases such as depois de estudar or depois de terminar, where it governs a noun or a verb in the gerund/infinitive form. In addition, depois que introduces a subordinate temporal clause meaning “after,” e.g., “Depois que ele chegou, começamos.” Usage can vary by dialect, with some speakers preferring depois que over after-de constructions in certain contexts.

Related terms and nuance: Synonyms include mais tarde, posteriormente, and após, though each has subtle distinctions in formality and emphasis. Antes means the opposite. Depsite its simplicity, depois frequently helps structure narratives and explanations by marking progression in time.

In summary, depois is a versatile temporal adverb in Portuguese that signals what happens after something else, often working together with de to introduce actions that follow another event, and it also appears in subordinate clauses introduced by depois que.