tardará
“tardará” means “it will take” in Spanish (referring to time required).
it will take, he/she/it will delayAlso: you will take
📝 In Action
El paquete tardará tres días en llegar.
B1The package will take three days to arrive.
Ella dice que tardará un poco en decidir.
B2She says she will take a while to decide.
Si salimos ahora, el tráfico no tardará en formarse.
B2If we leave now, the traffic won't delay/start forming quickly.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tardará
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'tardará' to ask about travel time?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
The verb 'tardar' comes from the Latin word *tardāre*, meaning 'to delay' or 'to make slow,' which itself is related to the adjective *tardus* (slow). It has always been about slowness or the passage of time.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'tardará' and 'va a tardar'?
They both mean 'it will take time' or 'it will delay.' 'Tardará' is the simple future tense, often used for more formal or certain predictions. 'Va a tardar' (the immediate future) is more common in everyday spoken Spanish.
How do I know if 'tardará' refers to 'he,' 'she,' or 'it'?
You need context! Since Spanish often leaves out the subject, the meaning depends on the surrounding words. If you are talking about 'el autobús' (the bus), 'tardará' means 'it will take.' If you mentioned 'mi hermana' (my sister), 'tardará' means 'she will take/delay.'