Inklingo

How to Say "delay" in Spanish

English → Spanish

retraso

/rreh-TRAH-soh//reˈtɾaso/

nounA1general
Use 'retraso' for a delay that causes something to be late, especially concerning schedules or arrival times.
A person in a yellow raincoat waits forlornly at an empty bus stop while a large snail slowly crawls across their boot.

Examples

El vuelo a Madrid sufrió un retraso de dos horas.

The flight to Madrid suffered a two-hour delay.

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

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.

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

Using Prepositions

To say something is 'late' or 'delayed,' you often use the preposition 'con': 'Llegó con retraso' (He arrived late/with delay).

Preposition Error

Mistake: “El tren viene 'en' retraso.”

Correction: The correct phrase is 'El tren viene 'con' retraso' or 'El tren está retrasado' (using the adjective form). Use 'con' for the noun 'retraso'.

demora

/de-MOH-rah//deˈmoɾa/

nounA2general
Use 'demora' to talk about a period of waiting or a hold-up that has occurred, often implying a temporary stoppage or postponement.
A person sitting patiently on a wooden bench next to a suitcase, looking out a window at falling rain.

Examples

Pedimos disculpas por la demora del tren.

We apologize for the train delay.

Necesito los documentos sin más demora.

I need the documents without further delay.

Always Feminine

Even though it ends in 'a', just like most words for objects, this noun is feminine. Use 'la demora' or 'una demora'.

Demora vs. Retraso

Mistake: “Using 'retraso' for everything.”

Correction: While 'retraso' is more common in daily speech, 'demora' is the preferred word in professional settings like airports or official letters.

detención

nounB1general
Use 'detención' when referring to a complete stop or halt in progress, often brief and specific, like a train stopping.

Examples

La detención del tren duró solo dos minutos.

The stopping of the train lasted only two minutes.

Demora vs. Retraso

Learners often confuse 'demora' and 'retraso'. While both mean delay, 'retraso' is more strongly tied to being late according to a schedule, whereas 'demora' focuses on the waiting period itself or a general hold-up.

Related Translations

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