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atrasado

ah-trah-SAH-doh/atɾaˈsaðo/

late, behind

Also: overdue
SpainLatin America
A person running quickly while holding a briefcase, looking hurried.

📝 In Action

Llegué diez minutos atrasado a la clase.

A2

I arrived ten minutes late to the class.

El tren viene muy atrasado hoy.

A2

The train is running very late today.

Estoy un poco atrasado con el trabajo de la universidad.

B1

I am a bit behind with my university work.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • pagos atrasados – overdue payments
  • reloj atrasado – a clock that is slow
  • quedarse atrasado – to fall behind

underdeveloped, old-fashioned

Also: backwards
An old wooden plow sitting in a field next to a modern tractor.

📝 In Action

Ese pueblo usa técnicas agrícolas muy atrasadas.

B2

That town uses very underdeveloped farming techniques.

Sus ideas sobre la educación son un poco atrasadas.

B2

His ideas about education are a bit old-fashioned.

Es una zona económicamente atrasada.

C1

It is an economically underdeveloped area.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • anticuado (antiquated/outdated)
  • subdesarrollado (underdeveloped)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • mentalidad atrasada – old-fashioned mindset
  • país atrasado – underdeveloped country

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: atrasado

Question 1 of 3

If your alarm clock says 7:00 but the real time is 7:15, your clock is...

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
atrás(behind/back) — Adverb
atrasar(to delay / to set back) — Verb
atraso(a delay) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Formed from the Spanish adverb 'atrás' (meaning 'back' or 'behind'), which comes from the Latin 'ad trans' (across/beyond). The suffix '-ado' is used to turn it into a description of a state.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: atrasado

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'atrasado' for a person being late to dinner?

Yes! You can say 'Estoy atrasado' to mean you are running late, though 'Llego tarde' (I am arriving late) is also very common.

Is 'retrasado' the same thing?

Mostly, yes. In many contexts they are interchangeable. However, in Spain 'retrasado' is more common for transport, while in Latin America 'atrasado' is the go-to word. Be careful: 'retrasado' can also be a very offensive slur if used to describe a person's intelligence.

Does 'atrasado' mean the same as 'tarde'?

Not exactly. 'Tarde' is an adverb (late), while 'atrasado' is an adjective describing a state of being behind. You 'arrive late' (llegas tarde) but you 'ARE late/behind' (estás atrasado).