Spanish Word of the Day Archive
Sunday April 22, 2007

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rato, noun:
a while, a time

Rato is a terrifically useful word which is used in many different phrases to do with time. Today we’ll look at two of them.
Hace un rato means a while ago, or some time ago.

Se fue hace un rato
He left a while or some time ago

Como decía usted hace un rato
As you were saying a few minutes ago

The phrase para rato means ‘for a good while yet’ and can be translated in various ways:

Tenemos para rato: el avión está atrasado
We’ll be here for a good while yet: the airplane’s been delayed

Con este gobierno hay espectáculo para rato
With this government there will be entertainment for some time to come

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