tarde
/ˈtaɾde/
The Spanish word for late is tarde.
Tarde is used to describe someone or something that is not arriving until after an expected time. For instance, if you are running behind schedule, you might say voy muy tarde to indicate you are running very late.
Meaning: not arriving until after an expected time (adj)
Which one should you use?
Be careful not to confuse the adverb tarde with the noun la tarde, which means the afternoon.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtaɾde/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word tarde is a linguistic relative of the English word 'tardy'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, being 'tarde' to a social event is often culturally acceptable and may even be expected, unlike the strict punctuality often required in English-speaking professional environments.
- While in English 'late' can mean 'deceased', in Spanish you would never use tarde to refer to someone who has passed away.
Examples in context
- Ya voy muy tarde.I'm already so late.This sentence shows how to express being very late using tarde.Tatoeba #1283452 by marcelostockle, translation #953816 by CK
- ¿Ya es tan tarde?Is it that late?This sentence is a way to ask about the current time being late using tarde.Tatoeba #2857789 by Besatnias, translation #2649015 by CK
- Se te hizo tarde.You're running late.This sentence demonstrates the expression for running late using tarde.Tatoeba #4348336 by pchamorro, translation #2218357 by CK
- Disculpe, llegué tarde a la reunión.Excuse me, I arrived late to the meeting.
- El vuelo saldrá con retraso.The flight will depart with a delay.
- El envío llegó fuera de horario.The delivery arrived outside office hours.
- Llegué tarde a la fiesta, tarde como siempre.I arrived late to the party, as usual.
- Me retrasé para el partido, lo siento.I got delayed for the game, sorry.
- Llegó atrasado/a a la reunión.He/she arrived late to the meeting.
- 768 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are meeting for coffee.
- MateoLo siento, llegué tarde.I'm sorry, I arrived late.
- MaríaNo te preocupes, Mateo.Don't worry, Mateo.
- Mateo¿Esperaste mucho tiempo?Did you wait a long time?
- MaríaNo, yo también llegué tarde.No, I also arrived late.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tarde, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tarde, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
