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How to Say "afterwards" in Spanish

English → Spanish

después

adverbA1general
Use 'después' when referring to a general later time or sequence of events, especially when it's the primary focus of the sentence.

Examples

Primero hacemos la tarea y después jugamos.

First we do the homework and afterwards we play.

luego

/lwe-go//ˈlwe.ɣo/

adverbA1general
Use 'luego' to indicate what happens immediately or directly after something else, often implying a consequence or the next logical step in a sequence.
A visual sequence showing a person first putting on socks, and then putting on shoes, to illustrate the concept of 'afterwards' or 'next'.

Examples

Vamos a comer y luego vamos al parque.

We're going to eat and then go to the park.

Primero vamos a cenar y luego al cine.

First we're going to have dinner and then to the movies.

Termino el trabajo y luego te llamo.

I'll finish work and then I'll call you.

Nos vemos luego.

See you later.

Showing What's Next

'Luego' is a simple way to connect actions in time. It's like a signpost that says, 'Okay, after the first thing is done, this second thing happens.'

Confusing with 'Después'

Mistake: “'Luego' and 'después' are very similar, but 'después' is often followed by 'de' ('después de la clase'). 'Luego' usually stands on its own.”

Correction: Use 'luego' to simply connect two actions in a sentence ('Como y luego duermo'). Use 'después de' to say 'after something' ('Duermo después de comer').

Choosing between 'después' and 'luego'

Learners often confuse 'después' and 'luego' because they both translate to 'afterwards' or 'then'. While often interchangeable, 'luego' can sometimes imply a slightly more immediate sequence or consequence than 'después'.

Related Translations

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