French word

retard

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁətaʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbeing late

Example

Désolé, je suis en retard.

Sorry, I'm late.

Illustration for retard (being late)

More examples

Le train a un retard de vingt minutes.

The train is twenty minutes behind schedule.

Core concept

A schedule line with a person, train, or event sitting beyond its marked time.

Common phrases

  • être en retard

    to be late

  • avoir du retard

    to be delayed

  • prendre du retard

    to fall behind schedule

Similar words

délai: A set period allowed to complete something or meet a deadline.
attente: Time spent waiting for something to begin.
retardataire: A person who arrives late for an appointment or gathering.

Definition in French

Désigne l'état d'arriver ou d'être plus tard que prévu par rapport à un horaire, et le décalage temporel ainsi créé, applicable à une personne, un moyen de transport ou un événement.

Word origin

French retard comes through Old French from Latin retardare, built from re- meaning 'back' and tardus meaning 'slow'.

Usage tips

  • A person is être en retard, while a delayed train, document, or task has avoir du retard.

Other meanings

  • delaynoun

Opposites

  • avanceadvancenoun
  • ponctualitépunctualitynoun

Related words

Word lists with this word