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retraso

rreh-TRAH-sohreˈtɾaso

“retraso” means “delay” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

delay

Also: hold-up, lateness
NounmA1
A person in a yellow raincoat waits forlornly at an empty bus stop while a large snail slowly crawls across their boot.

📝 In Action

El vuelo a Madrid sufrió un retraso de dos horas.

A2

The flight to Madrid suffered a two-hour delay.

Lamento el retraso, el tráfico estaba terrible en la carretera.

A1

I apologize for the delay, the traffic was terrible on the highway.

Si hay un retraso en el pago de la factura, le cobrarán intereses.

B1

If there is a delay in the payment of the bill, they will charge you interest.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • demora (delay (often used interchangeably))
  • tardanza (lateness)

Antonyms

  • adelanto (advance (ahead of schedule))
  • puntualidad (punctuality)

Common Collocations

  • con retraso – late / with delay
  • sin retraso – without delay
  • sufrir un retraso – to suffer a delay

developmental delay

Also: lag
NounmB2formal
Two healthy, tall saplings stand next to a third sapling that is noticeably shorter and less developed.

📝 In Action

El informe médico indica un ligero retraso en la adquisición del lenguaje.

B2

The medical report indicates a slight delay in language acquisition.

La región sufre un retraso tecnológico considerable respecto a la capital.

C1

The region suffers a considerable technological lag compared to the capital.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • desfase (lag/gap)
  • subdesarrollo (underdevelopment)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • retraso mental – mental retardation (clinical term, often replaced by less stigmatizing terms)
  • retraso escolar – school lag/academic underachievement

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "retraso" in Spanish:

delay→developmental delay→lag→lateness→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: retraso

Question 1 of 2

Choose the best translation for: 'El banco anunció un retraso en la apertura de la sucursal.'

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Formed from the verb 'retrasar' (to delay), which combines the prefix 're-' (meaning 'back' or 'again') with 'trasar' (related to 'trazar', to mark or trace a line). Therefore, 'retraso' means the result of being moved back behind the established line or schedule.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: atrasoCatalan: retard

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Frequently Asked Questions

¿Es 'retraso' lo mismo que 'demora'?

Sí, son sinónimos y a menudo se usan indistintamente. Sin embargo, 'retraso' es quizás más común en anuncios oficiales de transporte (como aviones o trenes), mientras que 'demora' se puede sentir un poco más formal o administrativo.

How do I use 'retraso' to say I am late?

You can say 'Llegué con retraso' (I arrived with delay/late). Alternatively, you can use the verb 'retrasarse': 'Me retrasé' (I delayed myself/I was late).