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rato

RAH-toh/'ra.to/

“rato” means “a while” in Spanish (a short period of time).

a while

Also: a little while, a bit
NounmA1
Latin AmericaSpain
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.

📝 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

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

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "rato" in Spanish:

a bit→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: rato

Question 1 of 1

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

📚 More Resources

🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'raptus', which meant 'snatched' or 'seized'. The idea is that a 'rato' is a small piece of time that you 'snatch' or take out of the day.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: raptureFrench: rapt

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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.