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How to Say "delays" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tarda

/TAR-dah//ˈtaɾða/

VerbA1General
Use this word when asking about or stating the duration of a journey or process, essentially 'how long does it take?' or 'it takes X time'.
A simple, colorful storybook illustration showing a tiny green seedling with two small leaves slowly pushing its way up through dark, rich soil, symbolizing a process that takes time.

Examples

¿Cuánto tiempo tarda el tren de Madrid a Barcelona?

How long does the train from Madrid to Barcelona take?

Ella siempre tarda en responder mis mensajes.

She always takes a long time to answer my messages.

Si no apuras, el proyecto tarda una semana más.

If you don't hurry, the project will take one more week.

Using 'tardar' with 'en'

When you say what action is taking time, you almost always use the little word 'en' followed by the base form of the second verb: 'Tarda en comer' (He takes time to eat).

Impersonal Time

When asking about time duration for things like travel, the subject is often implied ('it'), so you use 'tarda': '¿Cuánto tarda?' (How long does it take?)

Using 'ser' instead of 'tardar'

Mistake: “El proceso es mucho tiempo.”

Correction: El proceso tarda mucho tiempo. (Use 'tardar' to express the duration of an action or event, not the verb 'to be'.)

demora

/de-MOH-rah//deˈmoɾa/

VerbB1General
Use this verb when referring to a person or thing causing a delay, meaning 'to be late' or 'to take a long time' in completing an action.
A large turtle slowly crossing a path in front of a person on a bicycle, forcing the cyclist to stop.

Examples

Ella siempre se demora mucho en arreglarse.

She always takes a long time to get ready.

El tráfico demora la entrega de los paquetes.

Traffic delays the delivery of the packages.

Using it with 'se'

When you want to say a person is taking a long time, use the 'se' form: 'se demora'. For example: 'Él se demora' means 'He is taking a while'.

Forget the 'se'

Mistake: “Yo demoro mucho.”

Correction: Say 'Me demoro mucho' if you mean you are taking a long time yourself. Use 'demoro' alone only if you are delaying something else.

largas

/LAR-gahs//ˈlaɾ.ɣas/

NounB1Informal
Employ this term when referring to excuses or stalling tactics used to postpone or avoid a decision or action.
A small, frustrated character stuck in a large puddle of sticky, green mud, unable to step forward, illustrating a delay.

Examples

El banco siempre me da largas sobre el préstamo.

The bank always gives me the runaround about the loan.

Ella me pidió una cita, pero le di largas porque no estaba segura.

She asked me out on a date, but I stalled her because I wasn't sure.

No podemos seguir dándole largas al problema; hay que enfrentarlo.

We can't keep putting the problem off; we have to face it.

Fixed Phrase

This word is almost always used in the phrase 'dar largas,' which means to intentionally postpone or avoid giving a definite answer.

Using 'largas' alone

Mistake: “Me dio unas largas.”

Correction: Me dio largas. (The word 'largas' doesn't usually take an article like 'unas' in this specific idiomatic phrase.)

Tarda vs. Demora

Learners often confuse 'tarda' and 'demora' because both relate to lateness. Remember that 'tarda' is primarily about the duration of a task or journey ('how long it takes'), while 'demora' focuses on the action of causing a delay or taking an excessive amount of time to do something.

Related Translations

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