popodne

Popodne is a time expression used in Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian to denote the afternoon, the part of the day after noon. In everyday language it refers to roughly the hours after 12:00 and before the evening, commonly from around 12:00 to 18:00, though the exact range can vary by season, region, and context. The term appears in conversation, media, and scheduling to describe events, activities, or routines occurring during this part of the day.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from podne, meaning noon, with a prefix that conveys “after,” yielding the sense of afternoon. A more formal variant, poslijepodne, is widely used and preferred in careful speech or writing, while popodne remains common in casual usage. Both forms are generally understood, with regional and stylistic preferences influencing choice.

Regional and stylistic notes: In some areas popodne is the standard everyday term, whereas in others poslijepodne is more common and considered neutral or formal. In daily life, speakers may switch between forms depending on context, register, or personal habit. The concept of popodne is also found in weather forecasts and public schedules, where it helps distinguish the afternoon from morning (jutro) and evening (veče/večer).

Cross-linguistic note: In related South Slavic languages, the exact term for the afternoon can differ; for example, Slovenian typically uses popoldne for the late afternoon, illustrating regional variation in time-expression conventions.