apropos
What does "apropos" mean?
Apropos means "at an appropriate time" or "regarding a particular subject." It is derived from the French "à propos," and it functions as a sophisticated way to signal that you are introducing a topic that is relevant to the current conversation or that you are making a comment at just the right moment. While it is a precise and elegant word, it is primarily used in formal or intellectual contexts. Using it in a very casual setting might sound slightly pretentious. It is most commonly followed by the word "of" when introducing a subject, as in "apropos of nothing" to describe a comment that seemingly came from nowhere.
"apropos" in conversation
A professional meeting
Apropos of our budget review, we need to address the marketing overhead.
Agreed, let's look at those figures now.
Used here to smoothly transition the conversation to a relevant, pre-planned topic.
Casual coffee chat
Apropos of nothing, did you ever finish that book I lent you?
I did! I was actually just about to bring it up.
The phrase 'apropos of nothing' is used to acknowledge that the speaker is changing the subject abruptly.
"apropos" in a sentence
Your comment was very apropos to our current discussion.
Your comment was very apropos to our current discussion.
Apropos of the upcoming holiday, we should finalize the office schedule.
Apropos of the upcoming holiday, we should finalize the office schedule.
He made a remark that seemed entirely apropos of the situation, despite the sudden silence.
He made a remark that seemed entirely apropos of the situation, despite the sudden silence.
