What is the Latin word for afternoon?

The usual Latin words for “afternoon” are pōmerīdiānus, invīsō, habeō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“afternoon” in Latin

pōmerīdiānuspostmeridian, related to afternoon invīsōto visit; to look after or watch over habeōto have, hold; to own, have (possessions); to possess, have (qualities)

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

afternoon s.

dies pomeridianus (Sen., Ep; 65, 1): tempus pomeridianum; horae pomeridianae. In the afternoon, post meridiem; tempore pomeridiano; horis pomeridianis.

afternoon adj.

postmeridianus: pomeridianus (both forms used; Cic. prefers the latter, Orat., 47, 157; but see Orelli. on Tusc, iii., 3, 7). To make an afternoon call on anybody, aliquem post meridiem convenire (on business), invisere (to set how he is): *aliquem officio pomeridiano prosequi (of a call of ceremony from an inferior for the purpose of showing respect: officio pomeridiano was the afternoon attendance of a client on his patron). The afternoon service, *sacra pomeridiana: afternoon preacher, sacerdos qui sacris pomeridianis interesse debet: concionator pomeridianus would be an afternoon haranguer. The afternoon sermon, *oratio in sacris pomeridianis habenda (if not yet delivered), habita (if delivered).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for afternoon?: The usual Latin words for “afternoon” are pōmerīdiānus, invīsō, habeō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.