tardado

tar-DAH-doh

time-consuming?referring to a process or task

Also:slow?referring to a person or an action,lengthy?referring to a duration

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El trámite para la visa es muy tardado.

The visa process is very time-consuming.

No seas tardado, ya casi nos vamos.

Don't be so slow, we're almost leaving.

Fue un viaje tardado por la lluvia.

It was a lengthy trip because of the rain.

Remember to change the ending to 'tardada' when describing feminine words, like 'una tarea tardada' (a time-consuming task).

Mistake: "Using 'lento' for everything that takes time."

Correction: Use 'lento' for speed (a slow car) and 'tardado' for duration (a task that takes a long time).

In Mexico, people almost always use 'tardado' instead of 'lento' when talking about how long a task or process takes.

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly describes a long, boring meeting?

tardanza(delay) - noun

Is 'tardado' the same as 'demorado'?

Yes, they are very similar. 'Demorado' is used more in Argentina and Uruguay, while 'tardado' is much more common in Mexico.

Can I use 'tardado' to describe a person?

Yes. If you call someone 'tardado', you are saying they are slow to finish tasks or get ready.