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lento

LEN-toh/'len.to/

“lento” means “slow” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

slow

Also: unhurried
A bright red snail crawling very slowly across a large green leaf, illustrating slow physical movement.

📝 In Action

El caracol es un animal muy lento.

A1

The snail is a very slow animal.

Tuvimos que ir a paso lento por la nieve.

A2

We had to go at a slow pace because of the snow.

La película era buena, pero el ritmo era un poco lento.

B1

The movie was good, but the pace was a bit slow.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • despacio (slowly (adverb))
  • pausado (slow, measured)

Antonyms

  • rápido (fast)
  • veloz (quick)

Common Collocations

  • a paso lento – at a slow pace
  • movimiento lento – slow movement

sluggish

Also: slow-witted, dull
A simple cartoon desktop computer unit sitting on a desk, illustrated with a large drop of sweat rolling down its side, symbolizing struggling and sluggish performance.

📝 In Action

Mi conexión a internet está muy lenta hoy, no puedo descargar nada.

B1

My internet connection is very sluggish today, I can't download anything.

Es un poco lento para captar las indirectas.

B2

He is a bit slow to get the hints.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • ágil (agile, quick)

Common Collocations

  • computadora lenta – slow computer
  • proceso lento – slow process (abstract)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "lento" in Spanish:

dim→dull→slow→slow-witted→sluggish→unhurried→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: lento

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the adverb form of 'lento'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
lentitud(slowness) — Noun
lentamente(slowly) — Adverb
enlentecer(to slow down) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word *lentus*, which originally meant 'pliant' or 'flexible,' but quickly evolved to mean 'sluggish' or 'slow' in reference to movement.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: lentoPortuguese: lento

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'lento' always negative?

No, not always. While it usually means 'slow,' it can describe a desirable quality, like a 'lento paseo' (slow, leisurely stroll) or a 'fuego lento' (slow, gentle fire) when cooking.

How do I say 'slow motion'?

The common Spanish phrase is *a cámara lenta* (literally, 'at slow camera') or *en cámara lenta*.