despacio
“despacio” means “slowly” in Spanish (manner of movement or action).
slowly
Also: softly, gently
📝 In Action
Por favor, habla despacio. No te entiendo si hablas rápido.
A1Please, speak slowly. I don't understand you if you speak fast.
Tienes que ir despacio en esta zona porque hay niños jugando.
A1You have to go slowly in this area because there are children playing.
Ella abrió la puerta muy despacio para no despertar a nadie.
A2She opened the door very softly/gently so as not to wake anyone up.
Tómate tu tiempo y hazlo despacio; no hay prisa.
B1Take your time and do it slowly; there is no hurry.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: despacio
Question 1 of 2
Which Spanish sentence correctly uses the word 'despacio'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Formed in Spanish from the combination of the preposition 'de' (of/from) and the noun 'espacio' (space or time interval). It originally meant 'with space' or 'at intervals,' evolving into the modern meaning of 'slowly.'
First recorded: Medieval period (likely 14th century)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'despacio' an adjective or an adverb?
It is an adverb. It tells you *how* an action is performed, which is why it never changes its ending. It is a very common alternative to adverbs that end in -mente, like 'lentamente'.
Can I use 'lento' instead of 'despacio'?
No. 'Lento' (slow) is an adjective, used to describe people or things ('un coche lento'). 'Despacio' (slowly) is an adverb, used to describe actions ('conducir despacio'). Always use 'despacio' when describing the speed of a verb.