Meaning
Used to indicate a future time, subsequent to the present.
Cultural Background
The 'quart d'heure de politesse' (the polite fifteen minutes) means being slightly 'en retard' is expected at social gatherings, but 'plus tard' is used to keep plans flexible. In Quebec, 'à plus tard' is common, but you'll also hear 'on se reparle' or 'à la revoyure' (more old-fashioned). In many Francophone African cultures, time is viewed more cyclically. 'Plus tard' can be a very polite way to defer something indefinitely to maintain social harmony. Swiss French speakers are known for being very punctual. 'Plus tard' is used precisely; if they say '10 minutes plus tard', they usually mean exactly 10 minutes.
The Silent S
Always keep the 's' silent in 'plus tard'. If you pronounce it, it sounds like you're saying 'no more late', which is confusing.
Punctuality vs. Time
Remember: 'En retard' is for your watch, 'Plus tard' is for your calendar.
Meaning
Used to indicate a future time, subsequent to the present.
The Silent S
Always keep the 's' silent in 'plus tard'. If you pronounce it, it sounds like you're saying 'no more late', which is confusing.
Punctuality vs. Time
Remember: 'En retard' is for your watch, 'Plus tard' is for your calendar.
Shorten it!
When saying goodbye to friends, just say 'À plus !' (and here, you DO pronounce the 's').
Polite Refusal
If someone asks you for something and you're busy, 'plus tard' is a very polite way to say 'not right now'.
Narrative Tool
Use it to start sentences when telling a story to show time has passed: 'Plus tard, nous avons trouvé...'.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with 'plus tard' or 'en retard'.
Je ne peux pas parler maintenant, je t'appelle ____.
You are postponing the call to a future time, not saying the call is late.
Choose the correct translation for 'See you later!'.
Comment dit-on 'See you later!' en français ?
'À plus tard' is the standard expression for 'See you later'.
Complete the dialogue.
Serveur: Voulez-vous commander ? Client: Non, ____, j'attends un ami.
The client wants to order at a subsequent time.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are telling a story about what happened after a long time.
Use 'plus tard' to indicate a jump forward in a narrative timeline.
Complete the sentence with the correct comparative.
Il est arrivé dix minutes ____ que moi.
'Plus tard que' is used to compare arrival times.
Which sentence is correct?
Select the grammatically correct sentence.
In French, the adverbial phrase 'plus tard' usually comes after the verb.
🎉 Score: /6
Visual Learning Aids
Plus Tard vs. En Retard
Practice Bank
6 exercisesJe ne peux pas parler maintenant, je t'appelle ____.
You are postponing the call to a future time, not saying the call is late.
Comment dit-on 'See you later!' en français ?
'À plus tard' is the standard expression for 'See you later'.
Serveur: Voulez-vous commander ? Client: Non, ____, j'attends un ami.
The client wants to order at a subsequent time.
You are telling a story about what happened after a long time.
Use 'plus tard' to indicate a jump forward in a narrative timeline.
Il est arrivé dix minutes ____ que moi.
'Plus tard que' is used to compare arrival times.
Select the grammatically correct sentence.
In French, the adverbial phrase 'plus tard' usually comes after the verb.
🎉 Score: /6
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, it's the standard way to say 'later in life' or 'in the future'. Example: 'Plus tard, je serai riche.'
'Tout à l'heure' usually means later today (within a few hours). 'Plus tard' is more general and can mean any time in the future.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend. For extremely formal writing, use 'ultérieurement'.
In French, the 's' in 'plus' is usually silent when followed by a consonant or at the end of a comparative phrase like this.
The most common way is 'À plus tard' or the informal 'À plus'.
Yes, you can say 'deux heures plus tard' (two hours later) or 'plus tard ce soir' (later tonight).
Use 'que' for comparisons: 'Il est arrivé plus tard que moi'.
No, it is an adverbial phrase and remains 'plus tard' regardless of what you are talking about.
Yes, it is perfectly polite and common in shops or with acquaintances.
It means 'at the latest'. Example: 'Je dois partir à 17h au plus tard.'
Yes, it's very common for postponing meetings or sending documents.
Yes, this is very common and means 'a little later'.
Related Phrases
À plus tard
specialized formSee you later
Tout à l'heure
similarIn a little while
Plus tôt
contrastEarlier
Bientôt
similarSoon
Ultérieurement
synonymAt a later date
Remettre à plus tard
builds onTo postpone
