tardar
“tardar” means “to take time” in Spanish (to require a duration).
to take time, to be longAlso: to delay, to spend time
📝 In Action
¿Cuánto tardas en llegar a la oficina?
A1How long does it take you to get to the office?
El tren tardó dos horas debido a la nieve.
A2The train was delayed by two hours due to the snow.
No tardes mucho, por favor. Te estamos esperando.
A1Don't take too long, please. We are waiting for you.
Aunque la receta es compleja, solo tardamos treinta minutos en prepararla.
B1Although the recipe is complicated, we only took thirty minutes to prepare it.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Preterite
Imperfect
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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Words that translate to "tardar" in Spanish:
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tardar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'tardar' to express the time required for an action?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
Comes from the Latin word *tardāre*, meaning 'to be slow' or 'to delay.' It shares its root with the Spanish word 'tarde' (afternoon/late).
First recorded: Around the 13th century in Spanish.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'tardar' always used with a specific amount of time?
No, you can use 'tardar' generally, like 'Tardas mucho' (You take a long time), or specifically, like 'Tardé diez minutos' (I took ten minutes). It can also be used to mean 'to be late,' as in 'Siempre llegas tarde' (You always arrive late) or 'Tardaste en llegar' (You were late arriving).
What is the key difference between 'tardar' and 'demorar'?
They are synonyms, both meaning 'to delay' or 'to take time.' 'Tardar' is generally more common and versatile, especially in everyday conversation about time required for tasks. 'Demorar' is often used in slightly more formal contexts or when talking about unexpected delays (traffic, bureaucracy).