'après' originates from French, specifically the Old French word 'apres', where it meant 'after'.

'apres' changed from Old French 'apres' and became modern French 'après'; the form was later borrowed into English (often without the accent) in set expressions such as 'apres-ski'.

Initially, it meant 'after' in Old French, and over time it has retained the basic meaning of 'after' though English use is generally restricted to phrases related to leisure (e.g., 'apres-ski').