Inklingo

How to Say "slowly" in Spanish

English → Spanish

despacio

dess-PAH-syoh/desˈpaθjo/

adverbA1general
Use 'despacio' when referring to the manner of movement or action, often implying a deliberate or careful pace, and it is generally the more common and versatile choice.
A small garden snail slowly gliding across the surface of a bright green leaf, leaving a visible trail.

Examples

Por favor, habla despacio. No te entiendo si hablas rápido.

Please, speak slowly. I don't understand you if you speak fast.

Tienes que ir despacio en esta zona porque hay niños jugando.

You have to go slowly in this area because there are children playing.

Ella abrió la puerta muy despacio para no despertar a nadie.

She opened the door very softly/gently so as not to wake anyone up.

Adverb Usage

Since 'despacio' is an adverb, it always stays the same (invariable). It modifies verbs, telling you how an action is performed: 'Correr despacio' (To run slowly).

Using the Adjective Form

Mistake: “Hablo lento. (I speak slow.)”

Correction: Hablo despacio. 'Despacio' is the word you need to describe the speed of the action, not the adjective 'lento' (slow).

lentamente

/len-tah-MEN-teh//lentaˈmente/

adverbA1general
Use 'lentamente' to describe a very gradual or prolonged slowness, often emphasizing the duration or the sheer lack of speed, commonly used for natural processes.
A colorful storybook illustration showing a large snail slowly inching its way across a bright green leaf.

Examples

El caracol camina lentamente por la hoja.

The snail walks slowly along the leaf.

Por favor, habla más lentamente para que pueda entenderte.

Please speak more slowly so I can understand you.

Las cosas están cambiando lentamente en la empresa.

Things are changing gradually in the company.

The '-mente' Adverb Pattern

In Spanish, you can often turn a describing word (adjective) into an action-describing word (adverb) by taking the feminine form of the adjective (lenta) and adding the ending -mente.

Adverbs are Fixed

Adverbs like 'lentamente' always stay the same. They don't change their ending based on who is doing the action or how many people are involved.

Confusing Adjective and Adverb

Mistake: “Hablo lento. (I speak slow.)”

Correction: Hablo lentamente. (I speak slowly.) The adverb form is needed because you are describing the verb (how you speak), not yourself.

Despacio vs. Lentamente

Learners often wonder if there's a strict rule. While 'lentamente' can sound a bit more formal or emphasize extreme slowness, 'despacio' is the go-to word for everyday situations like speaking or walking slowly. When in doubt, 'despacio' is usually the safer and more natural-sounding choice.

Related Translations

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