al cabo de
adverbCEFR B2
What does “al cabo de” mean in English?
after
after (a period of time), at the end of (al cabo de dos días — elapsed-time connector in narrative)
Example sentences
Al cabo de tres semanas de silencio, el gobierno emitió su primera comunicación oficial sobre el asunto.
After three weeks of silence, the government issued its first official communication on the matter.
Al cabo de varios años, la verdad sobre lo ocurrido aquella noche salió finalmente a la luz.
After several years, the truth about what had happened that night finally came to light.
Al cabo de un largo debate, la asamblea aprobó el proyecto por una mayoría ajustada.
After a lengthy debate, the assembly approved the project by a narrow majority.
How to use it
Al cabo de + time period means 'after (a period of time had passed)' — marking elapsed time in narrative with a sense of waiting or duration. Pattern: al cabo de + [time unit/quantity], [main clause with preterite]. It is more literary and marked than después de, implying an awareness of the time that was traversed before the new event occurred. Common in written narrative, journalism, and historical accounts.
Common mistake
Al cabo de ≠ a cabo de: al cabo de is the temporal connector (after a period); a cabo de does not exist as a standalone expression. Llevar a cabo (to carry out) is a different idiom. Also: after al cabo de, use preterite (the new event after the elapsed time), not imperfect (which would mark an ongoing state, not a new development). 'Al cabo de un año, vivía en Madrid' = after a year (he was living there — ongoing state, correct) vs. 'Al cabo de un año, se mudó a Madrid' = after a year (he moved — new event, also correct).