French Phrase
Je m'en vais cet après-midi.
Meaning
This phrase indicates that the speaker is departing or going away later in the day. The reflexive verb 's'en aller' emphasizes the act of leaving a location rather than the destination itself. It is a very natural and common way to express departure in everyday French.
When to use
Use this when informing someone of your plans to leave a place later today. It is suitable for casual settings like work, school, or social gatherings with friends.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jem'en vaiscetaprès-midi
S'en aller
This is a pronominal verb where 'en' acts as a pronoun meaning 'from there', effectively meaning 'to go away'.
Demonstrative Adjective
'Cet' is used instead of 'ce' before masculine words starting with a vowel to aid pronunciation through a liaison.
🗨In Conversation
Tu restes pour le dîner ?
Are you staying for dinner?
Non, je m'en vais cet après-midi.
No, I am leaving this afternoon.
✕Common Mistakes
Je vais cet après-midi.
Without 'm'en', 'aller' simply means 'to go' and requires a destination.
Je m'en va cet après-midi.
The first-person singular conjugation of 'aller' is 'vais', not 'va'.
↔Alternatives
Je pars cet après-midi.
I am leaving this afternoon.
Je m'en irai cet après-midi.
I will be leaving this afternoon.
Cultural Tip
While 'partir' is the standard verb for leaving, 's'en aller' is frequently used in spoken French to sound more natural. In France, the word 'après-midi' is technically both masculine and feminine, but the masculine form 'cet après-midi' is the most common usage.