Inklingo

How to Say "after" in Spanish

English → Spanish

después

des-PWESSdesˈpwes

adverbA1/B1General
Use 'después' when indicating something happens later in time, often following a specific event or time period, or when connecting two clauses where one follows the other.
A person walking out of a movie theater into the daylight, looking happy.

Examples

Nos vemos después de la cena.

We'll see each other after dinner.

Vamos al parque después de la clase.

We're going to the park after class.

Lávate las manos después del trabajo.

Wash your hands after work.

Todo cambió después de ese día.

Everything changed after that day.

The 'Después de' Combo

To say 'after something,' you almost always need the little word 'de'. Think of 'después de' as a single unit meaning 'after'. It is followed by the thing that happened first.

Contraction 'del'

Remember that 'de + el' becomes 'del'. So you say 'después del trabajo' (after the work), not 'después de el trabajo'.

Connecting Full Ideas

Use 'después de que' to connect two complete ideas where each one has its own action (verb). For example, 'I left' and 'you arrived'. The 'que' acts as a bridge.

Forgetting 'de'

Mistake: “Voy a casa después la escuela.”

Correction: Always remember to include 'de'. The correct sentence is: 'Voy a casa después de la escuela.'

Forgetting 'que'

Mistake: “Llegué a casa después mi hermano salió.”

Correction: When you are connecting two full ideas with different actors, you need the 'que'. It should be: 'Llegué a casa después de que mi hermano salió.'

tras

trahstɾas

prepositionA2/B2General
Use 'tras' to indicate a sequence, like one thing immediately following another, or when pursuing a goal or person.
A series of three identical, colorful cartoon rabbits walking in a straight line, one immediately following the other, illustrating sequence.

Examples

El perro corría tras la pelota.

The dog was running after the ball.

Llegaron uno tras otro.

They arrived one after another.

Día tras día, la situación mejoraba.

Day after day, the situation improved.

Año tras año, visitamos la misma playa.

Year after year, we visit the same beach.

en pos de

pohspos

prepositional phraseC1Formal/Literary
Use 'en pos de' to convey the idea of being in pursuit of something abstract, like a goal, dream, or better future.
A friendly dog with its nose to the ground, following a trail of paw prints through a grassy field.

Examples

El artista luchaba en pos de la perfección.

The artist struggled in pursuit of perfection.

Muchos jóvenes emigran en pos de un futuro mejor.

Many young people emigrate in pursuit of a better future.

El caballero andante partió en pos de aventuras.

The knight-errant set out in search of adventures.

Corrieron en pos del ladrón por toda la calle.

They ran after the thief all through the street.

The 'En Pos De' Formula

This word almost never stands alone. It is nearly always used inside the phrase 'en pos de.' Think of it as a single unit meaning 'pursuing' or 'following.'

Formal vs. Everyday Spanish

While 'en pos de' is beautiful in a book, in everyday conversation, people will just use 'buscando' (looking for) or 'detrás de' (behind).

Leaving out 'en' or 'de'

Mistake: “Busco pos la verdad.”

Correction: Busco en pos de la verdad. You need the full set 'en pos de' for the sentence to make sense.

Confusing 'tras' and 'después'

Learners often confuse 'tras' and 'después'. Remember that 'después' is more general for 'later' or 'after' an event, while 'tras' implies a closer sequence or active pursuit. Using 'después' when 'tras' fits the pursuit meaning can sound a bit off.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.