Spanish word

ralentizar

Pronunciation

IPA/ralentiˈθaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbslow down

Example

¿Puedes ralentizar la canción un poco?

Can you slow the song down a little?

Illustration for ralentizar (slow down)

More examples

Será mejor ralentizar el ritmo de la conversación para que todos entiendan.

It would be better to slow down the pace of the conversation so that everyone understands.

Core concept

Car slowing while braking.

Common phrases

  • ralentizar el ritmo

    slow down the pace

  • ralentizar la marcha

    slow the march

Similar words

frenar: Apply brakes or force to a vehicle or object to reduce its speed.
disminuir: Make an amount or degree smaller or less intense.
desacelerar: Reduce the rate of acceleration so motion slows.
reducir: Bring a speed or quantity down to a lower level.

Definition in Spanish

Reducir la velocidad de algo para que se mueva, suene o funcione más despacio.

Word origin

The verb comes from French ralentir with the Spanish verb-forming suffix -izar and ultimately from Latin lentus 'slow'.

Usage tips

  • Often used for audio or video playback and for technical slowdowns, it normally takes a direct object (ralentizar algo) and also appears pronominally for intransitive uses (la economía se ralentiza).

Other meanings

  • slackenverb

Opposites

Related words

  • ralentizacióndecelerationnoun
  • ralentizadoslowed-downadjective

Word lists with this word