dans l'après midi OR l'après-midi ?

Question

Hello!! I would like to know if we could use both "dans l'après-midi" and 'l'après- midi" when we want to say, "in the afternoon." Also, in the morning in French, we don't use "dans" correct? The same for "in the evening"?? Merci beaucoup !!! I look forward to the answers.

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Umi,
If you are talking about a precise moment, a time unit, you'll use : le matin, l'après-midi, le soir etc
Je fais les courses le matin = I go food shopping in the morning
If you are talking about a duration, you'll use: dans l'après-midi, dans la matinée /soirée etc
Je sors dans la matinée = I go out in the morning
See link here: An vs année, matin vs matinée, jour vs journée, soir vs soirée to express a time unit or a duration in French
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !

Answer

Bonjour Céline,Thank you very much for your answer with a great information. I shared it with my friends who also appreciated it! Best, Umi