Vespers is an evening prayer service in Christian traditions, traditionally held as the sun sets. The word comes from the Latin word for “evening,” and for centuries, monks and nuns would gather at dusk to sing psalms and offer prayers as darkness fell.

In many churches today, vespers remains a peaceful, contemplative service, often featuring candles, choral music, and readings. Unlike a regular Sunday service, vespers tends to be quieter and more reflective, a time to mark the end of the day with gratitude and spiritual thought. Some schools with religious traditions hold vespers services before holidays or at the end of term.

The word can also simply mean “evening” in a poetic or old-fashioned way. A writer might describe birds singing at vespers, meaning in the evening. You might even hear someone refer to “evening vespers,” which emphasizes the twilight hour when day transitions into night.