Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| más tarde | /ˌmas ˈtaɾde/ |
| después | /desˈpwes/ |
| luego | /ˈlweɡo/ |
These terms are used to describe something happening afterward in time. Más tarde is the most common way to express 'later on' in a general sense. Luego is used for 'later' but can also mean 'then' or 'next' when describing a sequence of events. If you want to refer to an adjective meaning 'at some time in the future', you would use posterior.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase más tarde literally translates to 'more late'.
Which one should you use?
While más tarde and luego are commonly used as standalone adverbs meaning 'later', después is often used to mean 'after [something else]'. Additionally, while both más tarde and luego refer to a later point in time, luego can also carry the meaning of 'then' within a sequence.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the word ahorita is used to mean 'later' or 'in a little while'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌmas ˈtaɾde/
Did you know?
- While luego means 'later', it is also used in the famous philosophical phrase Pienso, luego existo, meaning 'I think, therefore I am'.
- The Spanish word luego is a distant relative of the English word 'lieu' as in the phrase 'in lieu of'. Both words share a root meaning 'place'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying ahorita to mean 'later' can be intentionally vague, leaving the exact time of an action undetermined.
Examples in context
- Te lo digo luego.I'll tell you later.This sentence shows how to use luego to say 'later'.Tatoeba #3674885 by Seael, translation #2548286 by CK
- ¡Te veo más tarde!See you later!This sentence shows a common way to say 'see you later' using más tarde.Tatoeba #1248014 by marcelostockle, translation #360558 by Kazune
- Lo haré más tarde.I'll do it later on.This sentence demonstrates using más tarde to mean 'later on'.Tatoeba #1956295 by Shishir, translation #240122 by CK
- Haremos la reunión más tarde.We will have the meeting later.
- Abordaremos ese tema posteriormente en la presentación.We will address that issue later in the presentation.
- Nos vemos luego, ¡cuídate!See you later, take care!
- Voy a casa, después nos vemos.I'm going home, see you later.
- ¡Hasta luego, amigo!See you later, friend!
- Te veo ahorita.I'll see you later/in a little while.
- Hasta pronto, nos encontramos después.See you later, we'll meet up later.
- 304 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are deciding when to study together.
- Mateo¿Puedes estudiar conmigo ahora, Lucía?Can you study with me now, Lucía?
- LucíaAhora no puedo, pero podemos más tarde.I can't right now, but we can later.
- Mateo¿A qué hora quedaríamos entonces?What time would we meet then?
- LucíaTe escribo más tarde para confirmar.I will write to you later to confirm.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “later” translations and entries más tarde, después, luego, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries después, luego, más, tarde, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
