un buen rato
/un bwen ɾato/from spelling rules
The English idiom 'hot minute' can be translated into Spanish as un buen rato.
The phrase is used to express that a significant or considerable amount of time has passed, similar to the English idiom 'a hot minute'.
Did you know?
- The word rato is a linguistic relative of the English word 'rapture', as both derive from the Latin raptus meaning a seizing or snatching.
- While buen means 'good', in the phrase un buen rato it functions as an intensifier to mean 'long' or 'considerable'.
- While 'minute' is a precise unit in English, the Spanish rato is intentionally vague. It can describe anything from a few minutes to several hours depending on the context.
Examples in context
- No nos hemos visto en un buen rato.We haven't seen each other in a hot minute.
- Tardamos un buen rato en llegar a casa.It took us a hot minute to get home.
- Esperé un buen rato bajo la lluvia.I waited a hot minute in the rain.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel meet at a cafe after not seeing each other for a while.
- Sofía¡Hola, Daniel! No te he visto en un buen rato.Hi, Daniel! I haven't seen you in a hot minute.
- DanielEs cierto, Sofía. He estado muy ocupado.That's true, Sofía. I have been very busy.
- Sofía¿Quieres tomar un café conmigo?Do you want to have a coffee with me?
- DanielSí, me encantaría.Yes, I would love to.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buen, rato, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
