Meaning
late, slow
- late
- slow, sluggish, dull-witted
In a sentence
Sei sempre così tardo a capire le battute?
Are you always this slow to get jokes?
Siamo arrivati in albergo solo nel tardo pomeriggio.
We arrived at the hotel only in the late afternoon.
Non essere tardo, rispondi subito.
Don't be slow, answer right away.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| tardo | masculine · singular |
| tarda | feminine · singular |
| tardi | masculine · plural |
| tarde | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- For people arriving after the expected time, Italian usually prefers in ritardo, not tardo alone.
- Tardo before a noun often sounds formal or literary: il tardo pomeriggio, il tardo Medioevo.
- For mental slowness, tardo is dated or harsh; lento, ottuso, or tardo di comprendonio are more natural.