The spelling of the word "afternoon" reflects its pronunciation, using the IPA phonetic transcription of /ˈæf.tə.nuːn/. The first syllable is pronounced with the short "a" sound, followed by the "f" sound, and then the "t" sound. The second syllable has the long "oo" sound, followed by the "n" sound. This spelling helps to distinguish "afternoon" from similar words like "afterword," "afterthought," and "afterglow," which all have different pronunciations and spellings. So when writing "afternoon," remember its phonetic transcription and avoid any misspellings that could cause confusion.
Afternoon is a noun that refers to the period of time between noon and evening. It is typically considered to start around 12:00 PM and end around 6:00 PM, although the exact hours may vary depending on cultural, regional, or personal preferences. The word "afternoon" is derived from the Old English term "æftennōn," which combined "æft-" meaning "after" and "nōn" meaning "noon."
The afternoon is often characterized by its placement as the middle part of the day, following the morning and preceding the evening. It is a time when the sun is still shining brightly, gradually moving towards its descent. The temperature during the afternoon tends to be warmer compared to the beginning of the day. It is a time when people often engage in various activities such as work, school, leisure, or socializing.
The term "afternoon" is frequently used to refer to a specific time period rather than a general time of day. It can be used to describe any event, appointment, or scheduled activity occurring during this time frame. Additionally, "afternoon" can also be used more loosely to convey a general sense of time, such as when someone says they will see another person "later in the afternoon." Overall, afternoon represents a significant segment of the day and serves as an essential reference point for organizing daily routines and activities.
The part of the day after 12 o’clock.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "afternoon" originated from the Middle English phrase "after none", which literally means "after the ninth hour". In medieval times, people divided daylight into twelve equal parts called "hours of the day". The ninth hour was around 3 p.m., and after that point, the day was considered to be waning. Eventually, "after none" evolved into the word "afternoon" to represent the period of time between noon and evening.