ir/andar más despacio
To say slow down in Spanish, you can use ir/andar más despacio. If unsure, use ir/andar más despacio. Wiktionary also lists reducir/aminorar/disminuir la velocidad/rapidez.
Meaning: (''intransitive'') to decelerate (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish |
|---|
| ir/andar más despacio |
| reducir/aminorar/disminuir la velocidad/rapidez |
This phrase is used as an intransitive verb meaning to decelerate.
Which one should you use?
While ir/andar más despacio describes the general act of moving more slowly, reducir/aminorar/disminuir la velocidad/rapidez is used when you want to say 'to reduce speed'. For technical or scientific contexts regarding motion, the cognate desacelerar (to decelerate) is the appropriate choice.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are giving a command to a single person you know well, use the informal imperative ve más despacio. For a single person in a formal or polite context, use the polite imperative vaya más despacio.
Did you know?
- The word despacio literally means 'with space'. It comes from the combination of de and espacio.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, if you want someone to 'slow down' their pace of speech or actions, you might use the verb calmarse instead of a phrase about speed.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, telling someone to despacio while they are speaking is a common way to ask them to speak more clearly or enunciate.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, ¿podría hablar más despacio, por favor?Excuse me, could you speak more slowly, please?
- Por favor, reduzca la velocidad.Please, reduce your speed.
- Oye, habla más despacio, por favor.Hey, speak more slowly, please.
- ¡Espera! ¡Baja la velocidad!Wait! Slow down!
- ¡Oye! ¡Afloja el paso!Slow down!
- Hablá más lentoSpeak more slowly
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slow down” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries despacio, la, más, CC BY-SA 4.0.
