If you want to say “slow” in Spanish, you can use lento (masculine) or lenta (feminine) in many cases. But as is often the case with important Spanish words, there are other ways to say it.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to use “slow” in Spanish as both an adjective and adverb to express speed and pace in different situations.
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How to say ‘slow’ in Spanish as an adjective
There are several common Spanish adjectives used to express “slow,” and each one is used in different contexts.
Lento
To describe something as “slow” in Spanish, from the speed of traffic to the tempo of music, lento is your go-to. Per typical adjective placement in Spanish, it’s generally placed after the noun it modifies. The “-o” ending changes to “-a,” “-os,” or “-as” depending on the gender and number of the noun it describes.
- La conexión a internet es demasiado lenta. = The internet connection is too slow.
- El tráfico está muy lento hoy. = The traffic is very slow today.
- Los caracoles son muy lentos. = The snails are very slow.
- Las computadores en la biblioteca son lentas. = The computers at the library are slow.
Pausado
Pausado is used in more specific contexts to express “slow,” in the sense of being unhurried or sluggish. It’s often used to describe pace or a thought process. Here are some examples:
- Tomaron una decisión pausada y bien meditada. = They made a slow and well-thought-out decision.
- Habla con un tono pausado y claro. = He speaks with a slow and clear tone.
Atrasado
The use of atrasado to express “slow” is limited to describing a watch or clock that isn’t keeping the correct time. For example:
- Necesito ajustar mi reloj; está atrasado. = I need to adjust my clock; it’s slow.
Flojo
The adjective flojo also means “slow,” typically only referring to slow business or a sluggish pace of work. For example:
- El negocio está flojo en esta época del año. = Business is slow at this time of year.
- Ha sido una semana floja en la oficina. = It’s been a slow week at the office.
Using ‘slow’ in Spanish as an adverb
“Slow” in Spanish can function as an adverb when describing how an action is performed, indicating that it’s done at a slow speed. Unlike adjectives, they don’t follow Spanish gender rules in Spanish, so their endings do not change.
Despacio
Despacio, which means “slow” or “slowly,” is often used after common Spanish verbs like caminar (to walk), hablar (to speak), and conducir (to drive) to describe the speed at which the action is performed. For example:
- ¿Podrías hablar más despacio, por favor? = Could you speak slower, please?
- Conduce despacio por esta calle, hay niños jugando. = Drive slow on this street, children are playing.
Lentamente
Lentamente is used in similar contexts as despacio to describe actions performed slowly. It follows the more typical Spanish adverb pattern: adverbs used to modify a verb are formed by adding the Spanish suffix “-mente” to the feminine singular form of the adjective.
“Slowly” is often the more natural translation of lentamente, as seen in the following examples:
- Ella se acercó a la puerta lentamente. = She approached the door slowly.
- Las gotas de lluvia caían lentamente sobre el techo. = The raindrops fell slowly on the roof.
What is the difference between ‘slow’ and ‘slowly’ in Spanish?
Whether you say “slow” or “slowly” depends on the part of speech in Spanish that you are using. “Slowly” in Spanish can only be an adverb, whereas “slow” can be used as an adjective or adverb.
Here are some examples to demonstrate the difference:
- El coche lento va por la calle.= The slow car drives on the street.
- El coche va despacio por la calle. = The car drives slowly on the street.
Saying ‘slow down’ in Spanish
To say “slow down” in Spanish, you have several options, depending on the context. Are you in the car or running with a friend? Here’s what to say when you need to go slower.
Ir más despacio
Ir más despacio is a general, versatile way to say “go slower” or “slow down” in Spanish. You’ll typically use this phrase in the imperative mood in Spanish, which is used for commands or requests.
- Ve más despacio al bajar las escaleras. = Slow down when going down the stairs.
- Por favor, vaya más despacio al correr. = Please, slow down when running.
Reducir la velocidad
Reducir la velocidad is another way to say “slow down” in Spanish, typically when referring to driving.
- ¡Reduce la velocidad! Estás yendo muy rápido. = Slow down! You’re going too fast.
- Reduzca la velocidad en zonas escolares. = Slow down in school zones.
Other phrases with ‘slow’ in Spanish
Here are some common phrases using variations of “slow” in Spanish:
| Spanish | English |
| a fuego lento | over a slow flame (on low heat) |
| con calma | slowly/calmly |
| a paso de tortuga | very slowly (at a snail’s pace) |
| despacio y buena letra | slowly and carefully |
| en cámara lenta | in slow motion |
While it’s helpful to understand the nuances of lento, pausado, atrasado, flojo, despacio, and lentamente, you don’t need to memorize them all at once. Whether through conversations with native speakers or sessions with a knowledgeable tutor, consistent exposure to Spanish will help you master subtle differences between important terms like “slow” in Spanish.
If you prefer learning by listening, you can try watching news in slow Spanish, which helps you build your vocabulary and understand more by listening to news at a slower, easier pace, making it one of the best news sources in Spanish for learners.
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