good afternoon
good afternoon
Pronunciation
US English: /ˌɡʊd ˌæftərˈnuːn/
UK English: /ˌɡʊd ˌɑːftəˈnuːn/
Syllable Breakdown:
US English:
good: /ɡʊd/
g: voiced velar plosive
ʊ: near-close near-back rounded vowel
d: voiced alveolar plosive
af-ter-noon: /ˌæftərˈnuːn/
æf: near-open front unrounded vowel + voiceless labiodental fricative
tər: voiceless alveolar plosive + r-colored vowel (or an unstressed schwa /ə/ if the 'r' is not pronounced, common in non-rhotic accents)
nuːn: voiced alveolar nasal + close back rounded vowel + voiced alveolar nasal
UK English:
good: /ɡʊd/
g: voiced velar plosive
ʊ: near-close near-back rounded vowel
d: voiced alveolar plosive
af-ter-noon: /ˌɑːftəˈnuːn/
ɑːf: open back unrounded vowel + voiceless labiodental fricative
tə: voiceless alveolar plosive + schwa
nuːn: voiced alveolar nasal + close back rounded vowel + voiced alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
"Good afternoon" is primarily a fixed phrase and as such, it doesn't have typical singular/plural or verb conjugations.
Singular: good afternoon
Plural: good afternoons (used rarely, perhaps when referring to multiple instances of the greeting, e.g., "We exchanged several good afternoons.")
There are no verb, adjective, or adverb forms of the combined phrase "good afternoon." The individual words "good" and "afternoon" have their own variations (e.g., "better," "best" for good; "afternoons" for afternoon)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun (as a conventional expression)
A common salutation or greeting used to acknowledge someone's presence or initiate interaction during the afternoon hours. This typically refers to the period between midday and evening.
Synonyms: greetings, salutations, hello, hi, good day (if appropriate for the time of day)
Antonyms: farewell, goodbye, good night, good evening (as a parting), see you later
A polite valediction or expression of goodwill when parting from someone during the afternoon.
Synonyms: farewell, goodbye, cheerio, so long, later (informal)
Antonyms: hello, welcome, good morning, good evening (as a greeting)
Note: While "good afternoon" can technically function as a noun when referring to the phrase itself (e.g., "He mumbled a quick good afternoon"), its primary function is as an interjection or a fixed conventional expression.
Examples of Use
Books:
"When I entered, he looked up from his ledger. 'Good afternoon, Mr. Holmes,' he said, his voice flat." (Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)
"She smiled warmly. 'Good afternoon, dear. Come in, don't stand out in the cold.'" (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)
Newspapers:
"The Mayor began her address to the council with a cheerful, 'Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for being here today.'" (The New York Times)
"In a brief statement to reporters, the spokesperson offered, 'Good afternoon. We have no further comments on the ongoing investigation at this time.'" (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Good afternoon, tech enthusiasts! Today, we're diving deep into the latest advancements in AI." (TechCrunch.com)
"Our live webinar is about to begin. If you're just joining us, good afternoon and welcome to our session on sustainable living." ( webinar transcript, 2024)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television (News Broadcast): "Good afternoon, and welcome to the midday news. I'm [Anchor Name], and here are today's top stories." (e.g., CNN, BBC News, typically heard at the start of an afternoon news block)
Film: A character entering a shop might say, "Good afternoon," to the shopkeeper before Browse. (Common in dramas or period pieces)
Radio: "Good afternoon, listeners, and thanks for tuning in to [Radio Station Name]. It's [DJ Name] here, and we've got two hours of your favorite hits coming right up." (Often heard at the start of afternoon drive-time shows)
Video Games: An NPC (Non-Player Character) in an open-world game might greet the player with, "Good afternoon, traveler," depending on the in-game time of day. (e.g., The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
Social Media (X/Twitter): "Good afternoon, Twitter! What's everyone working on today?" (Common as a general greeting or prompt for engagement from individuals or brands)
Podcasts: "And that brings us to the end of today's episode. Good afternoon, and we'll catch you next time." (Used as a closing remark by hosts)
General Public Discourse:
Customer Service: "Good afternoon, thank you for calling [Company Name], how can I help you today?" (Heard frequently in call centers)
Retail: A sales associate to a customer entering a store: "Good afternoon, welcome to [Store Name]."
Meetings/Presentations: A speaker beginning their address: "Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for coming."
Everyday Conversations: "Good afternoon, Mrs. Jones! Lovely day, isn't it?" (Neighbor greeting a neighbor)
10 Famous Quotes Using Good afternoon
"Good afternoon, Mr. Sherlock Holmes." (Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, a common greeting in his stories)
"Good afternoon, gentlemen." (Often attributed to politicians or public figures beginning an address to a male audience, e.g., in archival news footage from parliamentary or press settings)
"Good afternoon, good afternoon, to you all." (From various traditional children's songs or educational materials, embodying a general greeting)
"Good afternoon, and welcome to the [news channel name] midday report." (A ubiquitous opening line for afternoon news anchors across major networks worldwide, e.g., BBC News, CNN, NTV Kenya)
"Good afternoon, class." (A standard greeting from a teacher to students at the start of an afternoon lesson, a universally recognized phrase in educational settings)
"Good afternoon, Your Honour." (A formal greeting used in courtrooms by lawyers or defendants addressing a judge)
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome aboard [airline name] flight to [destination]." (A typical announcement from airline crew when addressing passengers for an afternoon flight)
"Good afternoon, please state your name and business." (A common line from a doorman or receptionist in a formal setting, often seen in film or literature)
"Good afternoon, stranger. Are you lost?" (A clichéd, yet recognizable, line in fiction when a character encounters someone new in an unfamiliar place during the afternoon)
"Good afternoon. How may I help you?" (A standard opening phrase for customer service representatives in person or over the phone)
Etymology
The phrase "good afternoon" is a very straightforward combination of two English words: "good" and "afternoon."
Let's break it down:
Good: This word has roots in Old English, coming from "gōd," and has always carried the meaning of something positive, desirable, or excellent.
Afternoon: This word also comes from Old English. "After" means "behind" or "following," and "noon" originally referred to "the ninth hour" of the day in monastic tradition (around 3 p.m.). Over time, "noon" shifted to mean "midday" or 12 p.m. So, "afternoon" literally means the time after midday.
When you put "good" and "afternoon" together, it's essentially a shortened way of saying, "I wish you a good afternoon" or "May you have a good afternoon." It's a kind wish for the person you're greeting to experience a pleasant and positive period of the day.
The first known use of "good afternoon" as a greeting dates back to the early 1600s. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) finds its earliest evidence in 1607 in the writings of Thomas Middleton, a prominent English Jacobean playwright. At that time, its meaning was exactly what it is today: a polite greeting used during the hours after midday and before evening.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Good afternoon
Here's a list of phrases and idioms related to "good afternoon":
"Good afternoon, sunshine!" (A playful or slightly sarcastic greeting, often used towards someone who has just woken up late or seems particularly cheerful.)
"Just a good afternoon's work." (Original phrase, implying a significant or satisfying amount of work accomplished during the afternoon.)
"Have a good afternoon." (A common farewell wishing someone a pleasant continuation of their afternoon.)
"It's a good afternoon for a walk." (A descriptive phrase indicating suitable weather or conditions for an afternoon activity.)
"The good afternoon buzz." (Original phrase, referring to the feeling of energy or productivity that might occur in the afternoon, especially after lunch.)
"Kiss the good afternoon goodbye." (Original idiom, meaning to miss out on the pleasant part of the afternoon, perhaps by being stuck indoors or in a bad situation.)
"A good afternoon nap." (A common phrase referring to a refreshing sleep taken during the afternoon.)
"Seize the good afternoon." (Original phrase, a twist on "seize the day," encouraging making the most of the afternoon.)
"Make someone's good afternoon." (Original phrase, meaning to do something that significantly brightens or improves someone's afternoon.)
"Every dog has its day." (Idiom using a synonym, meaning everyone gets their turn or moment of success/good fortune. Can metaphorically apply to a good period, like an afternoon.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of good afternoon from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
