I'm late
Use this to say 'I am delayed' or 'I am running behind'. Remember to match the ending to your gender: 'atrasado' for men, 'atrasada' for women.
This means 'I'm going late' and is perfect for when you are already on your way and know you won't arrive on time.
A very natural and common phrase meaning 'It got late on me'. It subtly shifts the blame from you to the circumstances, making it a polite way to say you're late.
Sorry, I'm late. There was a lot of traffic.
Hi, team. Sorry, I'm running a little late today.
I'm already on the bus, but I'm running late.
I'm sorry, I ran late at the doctor's appointment.
The phrases 'Llego tarde' and 'Estoy atrasado/a' are standard and understood in all Spanish-speaking countries.
The pronunciation of 'llego' changes. The 'll' is pronounced like a 'sh' sound, so it sounds like 'SHEH-go TAR-deh'.
The vocabulary is the same. The pronunciation of 'll' in 'llego' can sometimes sound softer, closer to the 'li' in 'million', depending on the region.
'Se me hizo tarde' is an extremely common and natural way to express being late, in addition to 'llego tarde'.
Saying 'Soy tarde'. — This is a direct translation using the verb 'ser' (to be). In Spanish, being late is a temporary state or an action. Use 'Llego tarde' (I arrive late) or 'Estoy atrasado' (I am delayed). Never use 'ser'.
Saying 'Estoy tarde'. — While grammatically better than 'soy tarde', this is not a common or natural phrase. Native speakers will understand you, but it sounds like a direct translation. It's much more common to say 'Llego tarde' or 'Estoy atrasado/a'.
Forgetting gender agreement with 'atrasado/a'. — If you are female, you must say 'Estoy atrasada'. If you are male, you say 'Estoy atrasado'. Forgetting to match the adjective to your gender is a common mistake for beginners.
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