trabajo atrasado
/tɾabaxo atɾasado/from spelling rules
The English phrase "late work" is translated into Spanish as trabajo atrasado.
In professional or academic contexts, you might use the formal expression Entrega tardía del trabajo to mean "late submission of the work," or Retraso en la entrega del trabajo to mean "delay in the submission of the work." If you want to informally say "work that I missed" or "work that slipped my mind," you can use Trabajo que se me ha pasado.
What does it mean word for word?
In trabajo atrasado, the word atrasado literally means "delayed" or "behind schedule."
Which one should you use?
While trabajo atrasado implies work that is past its deadline, trabajo pendiente refers to work that is simply still outstanding or unfinished. Additionally, trabajo fuera de plazo can be used to specifically denote work submitted after a formal deadline.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must change to their plural forms: trabajos atrasados.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɾabaxo atɾasado/
Did you know?
- The word trabajo shares a surprising linguistic history with the concept of 'threefold' or 'triple' tasks, stemming from ancient roots related to the Latin 'tripālium', a device used to punish or work people.
- If you want to say work is 'overdue' in a more forceful or bureaucratic way, you can use vencido, which is the same word used for 'expired' food or 'overdue' bills.
- The adjective atrasado can also be used to describe someone as 'old-fashioned' or 'backward-looking', moving the meaning from a schedule delay to a social critique.
Examples in context
- Tengo mucho trabajo atrasado este mes.I have a lot of late work this month.
- Debo terminar este trabajo atrasado hoy.I must finish this late work today.
- El jefe revisó el trabajo atrasado.The boss reviewed the late work.
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are talking in the office.
- JavierElena, ¿tienes mucho trabajo atrasado?Elena, do you have a lot of late work?
- ElenaSí, Javier, tengo varios reportes pendientes.Yes, Javier, I have several pending reports.
- JavierYo también tengo trabajo atrasado desde el lunes.I also have late work since Monday.
- ElenaEntonces vamos a trabajar rápido.Then let's work quickly.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries atrasado, trabajo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
