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demora

de-MOH-rah/deˈmoɾa/

delay

Also: wait, lateness
NounfA2
A person sitting patiently on a wooden bench next to a suitcase, looking out a window at falling rain.

📝 In Action

Pedimos disculpas por la demora del tren.

A2

We apologize for the train delay.

Necesito los documentos sin más demora.

B1

I need the documents without further delay.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • retraso (delay)
  • tardanza (slowness/delay)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • sin demora – without delay/immediately
  • sufrir una demora – to experience a delay

delays

Also: takes time
VerbB1regular ar
Latin America
A large turtle slowly crossing a path in front of a person on a bicycle, forcing the cyclist to stop.
gerunddemorando
past Participledemorado
infinitivedemorar

📝 In Action

Ella siempre se demora mucho en arreglarse.

B1

She always takes a long time to get ready.

El tráfico demora la entrega de los paquetes.

B1

Traffic delays the delivery of the packages.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • demorarse en – to take a long time to (do something)

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdemoraran
yodemorara
túdemoraras
vosotrosdemorarais
nosotrosdemoráramos
él/ella/usteddemorara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdemoren
yodemore
túdemores
vosotrosdemoréis
nosotrosdemoremos
él/ella/usteddemore

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesdemoraron
yodemoré
túdemoraste
vosotrosdemorasteis
nosotrosdemoramos
él/ella/usteddemoró

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdemoraban
yodemoraba
túdemorabas
vosotrosdemorabais
nosotrosdemorábamos
él/ella/usteddemoraba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdemoran
yodemoro
túdemoras
vosotrosdemoráis
nosotrosdemoramos
él/ella/usteddemora
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "demora" in Spanish:

delay→delays→lateness→takes time→wait→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: demora

Question 1 of 2

Which of these is the most common way to say 'without delay'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
demorar(to delay / to take time) — Verb
demorado(delayed / late) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'demorari', which combines 'de-' (completely) and 'morari' (to stay or linger). It literally means to stay behind or stay a long time.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: demurFrench: demeure

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'demora' the same as 'retraso'?

Yes, they both mean 'delay'. However, 'demora' is often used in more formal settings, like flight announcements or legal papers, while 'retraso' is more common in everyday conversation.

Can 'demora' mean 'it takes time'?

Yes, as a verb form (demora), it can mean 'it delays' or 'it takes time' to happen.