tardevsdespacio
/TAR-deh/
/dess-PA-see-oh/
💡 Quick Rule
Tarde is about the clock (late). Despacio is about your speed (slowly).
Think: Tarde = Tardy. Despacio = Slow Pace.
📊 Comparison Table
| Context | tarde | despacio | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Describing travel | El avión llegó tarde. | El avión aterrizó despacio. | Tarde refers to the arrival time (on the schedule). Despacio refers to the physical speed of the landing. |
| Talking about work | Terminé el informe tarde. | Escribí el informe despacio. | Tarde means you finished after the deadline. Despacio means you wrote it carefully and without rushing. |
| Giving instructions | ¡No me llames tan tarde! | Cuando me llames, habla despacio. | Tarde refers to the time of day (late at night). Despacio refers to the speed of speech. |
✅ When to Use "tarde" / despacio
tarde
Late; happening after the correct or expected time. Can also be a noun for 'afternoon'.
/TAR-deh/
Arriving after the scheduled time
Llegué tarde a la reunión.
I arrived late to the meeting.
Doing something at a late hour
Es tarde, deberíamos ir a dormir.
It's late, we should go to sleep.
As a noun for 'afternoon'
Nos vemos esta tarde.
See you this afternoon.
despacio
Slowly; at a low speed or pace.
/dess-PA-see-oh/
Moving at a low speed
La tortuga camina muy despacio.
The turtle walks very slowly.
Speaking at a slow pace
¿Puedes hablar más despacio, por favor?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Doing an action without rushing
Come despacio para disfrutar la comida.
Eat slowly to enjoy the food.
🔄 Contrast Examples
With "tarde":
Salí de casa tarde.
I left the house late.
With "despacio":
Caminaba muy despacio.
I was walking very slowly.
The Difference: Tarde explains the timing of your departure (it was after the right time). Despacio explains the speed of your movement. Both could be true: 'Salí tarde y caminaba despacio'.
With "tarde":
Ana entregó el examen tarde.
Ana handed in the exam late.
With "despacio":
Ana hizo el examen despacio.
Ana did the exam slowly.
The Difference: Tarde means she went past the deadline. Despacio means she took her time and was careful. She could have worked slowly (despacio) but still finished on time (not tarde).
🎨 Visual Comparison
A split-screen showing a clock for 'tarde' (late) and a snail for 'despacio' (slowly).
Tarde is about the clock (being on time). Despacio is about your speed (being fast or slow).
⚠️ Common Mistakes
El coche va muy tarde.
El coche va muy despacio.
To describe the speed of something, use 'despacio'. 'Tarde' only refers to time, as in being late or the afternoon.
Por favor, habla más tarde.
Por favor, habla más despacio.
This common mistake actually means 'Please, talk later.' To ask someone to reduce their speed of speaking, you must use 'despacio'.
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
🏷️ Key Words
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Tarde vs Despacio
Question 1 of 2
If you want someone to speak at a lower speed, you say: 'Habla más ___.'
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'despacio' and 'lento'?
Great question! 'Despacio' is an adverb, meaning it describes an action (walk slowly, talk slowly). 'Lento/a' is an adjective, so it describes a person or thing (a slow car, a slow person). For example: 'El caracol es lento' (The snail is slow) vs. 'El caracol camina despacio' (The snail walks slowly).
Can 'tarde' ever mean 'slow'?
No, never. 'Tarde' is always about time. It either means 'late' (the opposite of 'temprano' - early) or 'afternoon' (as a noun). The concept of speed is always handled by 'despacio' (adverb) or 'lento/a' (adjective).