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A colorful storybook illustration showing a hiker taking a quick, brief rest on a wooden bench under a tree, representing a short period of time.

rato

/RAH-toh/

NounmA1
a while?a short period of time
Also:a little while?emphasizing shortness,a bit?informal, for time

📝 In Action

Necesito descansar un rato.

A1

I need to rest for a little while.

Hablamos al rato.

A2

We'll talk in a bit.

Pasamos un buen rato en la playa.

A2

We had a good time at the beach.

Estuvimos esperando un largo rato.

B1

We were waiting for a long while.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • eternidad (eternity)

Common Collocations

  • un buen rato – a good time
  • un mal rato – a bad time / a hard time
  • pasar el rato – to pass the time / to hang out
  • al poco rato – after a short while
  • a cada rato – all the time / very often

Idioms & Expressions

  • para rato – for a long while to come; indicates something will last a long time

💡 Grammar Points

Vague Time vs. Specific Time

'Rato' is wonderful because it's vague. You use it when the exact number of minutes doesn't matter. It's the feeling of 'a while' or 'a bit'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Don't Add Specifics

Mistake: "Estudié por un rato de veinte minutos."

Correction: Just say 'Estudié por veinte minutos' (I studied for twenty minutes) or 'Estudié un rato' (I studied for a while). 'Rato' already means an amount of time, so you don't need to specify it.

⭐ Usage Tips

Making 'Rato' Mean 'Good' or 'Bad'

By itself, 'rato' is just about time. But add an adjective like 'buen' (good) or 'mal' (bad) right before it, and it suddenly means 'a good time' or 'a bad time'. For example, '¡Qué buen rato!' means 'What a good time!'

The Contradiction of 'Largo Rato'

It might sound strange, but 'un largo rato' (a long while) is a very common phrase. Even though 'rato' usually implies a short time, this combination is used to emphasize that a period of time felt long.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: rato

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence best translates to 'We had a hard time during the exam'?

📚 More Resources

Words that Rhyme with rato

gato
plato
barato
trato

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'un rato' and 'un momento'?

'Un momento' is usually very short, like a few seconds or a minute (think 'one moment, please'). 'Un rato' is more flexible and usually longer, from a few minutes to maybe an hour. It's a general 'while' or 'bit'.

Can I say 'un pequeño rato'?

Yes, you can! 'Un pequeño rato' or 'un ratito' both mean 'a very little while'. Using 'ratito' (the diminutive form) is very common and sounds friendly and natural.