tardi
/ˈtar.di/
In Italian, the English word "late" is tardi.
tardi is used when referring to the time of day being late, such as when it is late at night. It can function as an adjective meaning not arriving until after an expected time, or as an adverb meaning past a designated time.
Meaning: not arriving until after an expected time (adj)
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between tardi and in ritardo. Use tardi to refer to the time of day (for example, "it is late at night"), but use in ritardo to mean being behind schedule (for example, "the train is late").
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike many Italian adjectives, tardi functions as an adverb and does not change its ending to agree with the gender or number of a subject.
Did you know?
- The English word 'tardy', often used to describe a slow or late student, shares the exact same Latin root as the Italian tardi.
- Using tardi to describe a person's arrival is often a way to describe the hour itself rather than the person's failure to be punctual.
Examples in context
- È a casa tardi.You are home late.This sentence shows how to say someone is home late using tardi.Tatoeba #11080442 by Guybrush88, translation #20434 by CK
- È già così tardi?Is it already so late?This sentence uses tardi to ask if the time is already late.Tatoeba #7810728 by Guybrush88, translation #7766827 by sharris123
- Sei a casa tardi.You're home late.This sentence expresses that someone is home late using tardi.Tatoeba #11080439 by Guybrush88, translation #2218158 by CK
- Sono arrivato tardiI arrived late
- La riunione è iniziata tardiThe meeting started late
- Mi spiace per il ritardoI'm sorry for the delay
- L'aereo è partito in ritardoThe plane departed late
- Ci vediamo in tarda serataLet's meet in the late evening
- Mi sono svegliato in ritardinoI woke up late
- Stasera andrò a letto tardi.Tonight, I will go to bed late.
- Il treno è arrivato in ritardo.The train arrived late.
- Ci vediamo in tarda serata al bar.Let's meet in the late evening at the bar.
- Scusa il mio ritardo, c'è stato un imprevisto.I apologize for my lateness, there was an unforeseen event.
- 616 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Alessandro are talking at a coffee shop in the evening.
- AlessandroGiulia, perché sei tornata così tardi?Giulia, why did you return so late?
- GiuliaIl mio ufficio era pieno di lavoro, Alessandro.My office was full of work, Alessandro.
- AlessandroSpero che tu non sia troppo stanca.I hope you are not too tired.
- GiuliaUn po', ma ora voglio solo riposare.A little, but now I just want to rest.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tardi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tardi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
