apéro
pre-dinner drinks / happy hour / aperitif hangout
Beginner Noun Masculine
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Pronunciation
/a.pe.ʁo/
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Cultural Note
Short for 'apéritif,' but calling it just an aperitif misses the point entirely. L'apéro is a sacred French ritual — drinks and snacks before dinner that routinely becomes dinner itself. It's where friendships deepen, gossip flows, and no one looks at the clock. The 'apéro dînatoire' (where appetizers ARE the meal) is France's greatest culinary innovation. Typical setup: rosé, saucisson, olives, and complaints about work. It is the glue of French social life.
📝 Example Sentences
On se fait un apéro ce soir sur la terrasse ?
Shall we have drinks on the terrace tonight?
L'apéro a duré tellement longtemps qu'on a sauté le dîner.
The apéro lasted so long we skipped dinner.