How to Say "belated" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “belated” is “tardío” — B1 level.
Examples
Tuvimos un invierno tardío este año.
We had a late winter this year.
Su arrepentimiento fue sincero pero tardío.
His regret was sincere but belated.
La floración tardía de los almendros es normal en esta zona.
The late blooming of the almond trees is normal in this area.
Matching with the Noun
Since this is an adjective, its ending changes to match what it describes. Use 'tardío' for masculine words (el otoño tardío) and 'tardía' for feminine words (la respuesta tardía).
Position Matters
When you put 'tardío' after the noun, it emphasizes that the timing was specifically late. Placing it before the noun is much less common and usually sounds very poetic.
Tarde vs. Tardío
Mistake: “Llegué tardío a la fiesta.”
Correction: Llegué tarde a la fiesta.
Related Translations
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