Spanish · Time, Numbers & Colors
"Late" in Spanish: tarde
tarde
Note: to be late: estar atrasado/a
Late as an adverb is tarde. Llegar tarde means to arrive late. Estoy atrasado also means I am late.
Apology
Perdón, llegué tarde.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce tarde
Say it
TAR-deh
/ˈtaɾde/
TAR-deh. Stress TAR. Soft final e.
"Late" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| tarde | late Adverb of time after a verb. | Adverb of time after a verb. |
| llegar tarde | to arrive late Appointments and class. | Appointments and class. |
| más tarde | later A later time. | A later time. |
| estar atrasado / atrasada | to be late / delayed When you are running behind. | When you are running behind. |
| demasiado tarde | too late Missed the moment. | Missed the moment. |
How to use tarde in real life
- 1Apology
Perdón, llegué tarde.
Sorry, I arrived late.
Llegar + tarde.
- 2Plans
Hablamos más tarde.
We'll talk later.
Más tarde means later.
- 3Warning
Ya es demasiado tarde.
It is already too late.
Demasiado tarde.
Mistakes English speakers make with tarde
Incorrect: Soy tarde.
Correct: Llego tarde. / Estoy atrasado.
Tarde is an adverb; for people use llegar tarde or estar atrasado.
Incorrect: Llego late.
Correct: Llego tarde.
Use tarde, not English late.
Good to know
Good to knowTarde also means afternoon, as in buenas tardes. Context tells you late versus afternoon.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Running behind for class
ChatPal
¿Vas a llegar tarde otra vez?
Are you going to arrive late again?
You
No. Hoy no llego tarde.
No. Today I won't arrive late.
ChatPal
Bien. Te espero en la puerta.
Good. I'll wait for you at the door.
You
Si salgo ahora, no llego tarde.
If I leave now, I won't arrive late.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Late" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Late" in Spanish
Is tarde late or afternoon?
Both. Context decides: llegar tarde vs buenas tardes.
How do I say I am late?
Estoy atrasado or estoy atrasada, or llego tarde.
Does tarde change for gender as late?
No. As an adverb, tarde stays the same.
How do I say later?
Más tarde.
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