German word

spät

Pronunciation

IPA/ʃpɛːt/

Meaning

  • adverblate

Example

Ich komme spät.

I arrive late.

Illustration for spät (late)

More examples

Am Wochenende stehe ich spät auf.

At the weekend, I get up late.

Core concept

A planned event sits near the far edge of its expected time window.

Common phrases

  • spät schlafen gehen

    go to bed late

  • zu spät kommen

    arrive too late

  • spät morgens

    late in the morning

Similar words

später: At a time after a stated reference point or the present.
zu spät: After the time when an opportunity can still be used.
spät dran: Behind schedule and hurrying to catch up.
recht spät: At a rather late time or stage, expressed mildly.

Definition in German

Zur Angabe eines Zeitpunkts, der später als erwartet oder üblich liegt.

Word origin

The modern adverb spät descends through Middle High German spet from Old High German spāto, retaining the inherited sense of a later time.

Usage tips

  • German distinguishes spät from zu spät: spät means late, while zu spät means too late for the relevant opportunity.

Other meanings

  • tardyadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word