Later.

In everyday language, the Dutch word “straks” is often associated with a reference to a time in the near future. An interesting hypothesis, although not supported by conventional linguistic sources, suggests that “later” could possibly be an abbreviation of a longer expression.

According to this theory, “later” could have originated from a phrase such as “later after coffee”, an expression that can be imagined in a historical context in which breaks for coffee or tea were a significant part of social and working life. In this context, “later after coffee” might have been a common phrase to indicate a moment just after a short break in daily activities.

Over time, languages have tended to shorten longer expressions for convenience and efficiency. It is conceivable that in such a language development process “later after coffee” is ultimately reduced to simply “later”. This process of linguistic attrition and shortening is a well-known phenomenon and may provide a possible explanation for the origin of many contemporary words and expressions.

It is important to emphasize that this hypothesis about the origin of “later” is not based on existing etymological studies. Regular linguistics places “straks” as a word originating from Middle Dutch, without direct indications of such an abbreviation. Nevertheless, this hypothesis offers an intriguing perspective on how language evolves and adapts to the needs and practices of its speakers.

This alternative approach to the etymology of “later” invites a deeper understanding of the dynamic nature of language and its ability to shape itself to the context and culture of its users.