A small garden snail slowly gliding across the surface of a bright green leaf, leaving a visible trail.

despacio

dess-PAH-syoh

adverbA1

slowly?manner of movement or action

Also:softly?manner of speaking or movement,gently?careful handling

📝 In Action

Por favor, habla despacio. No te entiendo si hablas rápido.

Please, speak slowly. I don't understand you if you speak fast.

Tienes que ir despacio en esta zona porque hay niños jugando.

You have to go slowly in this area because there are children playing.

Ella abrió la puerta muy despacio para no despertar a nadie.

She opened the door very softly/gently so as not to wake anyone up.

Tómate tu tiempo y hazlo despacio; no hay prisa.

Take your time and do it slowly; there is no hurry.

Word Connections

Synonyms

lentamente (slowly (more formal))
poco a poco (little by little)

Antonyms

rápido (fast)
de prisa (in a hurry)

Common Collocations

muy despacio – very slowly
ve despacio – go slowly (command)

💡 Grammar Points

Adverb Usage

Since 'despacio' is an adverb, it always stays the same (invariable). It modifies verbs, telling you how an action is performed: 'Correr despacio' (To run slowly).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Adjective Form

Mistake: "Hablo lento. (I speak slow.)"

Correction: Hablo despacio. 'Despacio' is the word you need to describe the speed of the action, not the adjective 'lento' (slow).

⭐ Usage Tips

Natural Choice for Speed

While 'lentamente' is technically correct, 'despacio' is the overwhelmingly common and natural way Spanish speakers tell someone to slow down or describe something moving slowly.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: despacio

Question 1 of 2

Which Spanish sentence correctly uses the word 'despacio'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

lento(slow) - adjective

lentitud(slowness) - noun

espacio(space/room) - noun

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.