Spanish word

tardar

Pronunciation

IPA/taɾˈðaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbtake a while

Example

¿Cuánto tardas en llegar?

How long does it take you to get there?

Illustration for tardar (take a while)

More examples

¡No te tardes!

Don't take too long!

Core concept

Elapsed time on a clock between start and finish.

Common phrases

  • tardar en responder

    take a while to reply

  • tardar en llegar

    take a while to arrive

  • tardar unos minutos

    take a few minutes

Similar words

llevar: Shows how much time an action or trip takes.
demorarse: Takes longer than expected to arrive or finish.
gastar: Spends time doing an activity.
retrasarse: Is late compared with the scheduled start or arrival time.

Definition in Spanish

Expresar la duración que toma completar una acción o llegar a un lugar, sin implicar necesariamente un retraso.

Word origin

From Latin tardus 'slow' via the Late Latin verb tardāre 'to make slow', the verb evolved in Romance languages to express that an action or trip takes time.

Usage tips

  • Used with en + infinitive or en + a time phrase to state how long an action or trip takes, and it does not by itself mean someone is late; use llegar tarde to say 'to arrive late'.

Other meanings

  • be delayedverb

Opposites

  • apurarsehurryverb
  • apresurarserushverb

Related words

  • tardíolateadjective
  • tardanzadelaynoun

Word lists with this word