rato

m.

while.

estuvimos hablando mucho rato we were talking for quite a while

a cada rato viene a hacerme preguntas he keeps coming and asking me questions (all the time)

un buen rato a good time; (momento agradable) a good while, quite some time (mucho tiempo)

¡hasta otro rato! see you soon!

al poco rato (de) shortly after

con esto hay para rato that should keep us going for a while

pasar el rato to kill time, to pass the time

pasar un mal rato to have a hard time of it

ratos libres spare time

a ratos at times

a ratos perdidos at odd moments

tenemos lluvia para rato the rain will be with us for some time

va para rato it will take some (considerable) time

un rato (largo) (informal) really, terribly (mucho) (peninsular Spanish)

* * *

rato

► nombre masculino

1 (tiempo) time, while, moment

■ habló hace un rato he spoke a while ago

■ hace mucho rato que se fue she left quite a while ago

■ charlamos un rato we chatted for a while

2 (espacio) way

■ hay un buen rato hasta Vigo it's a long way to Vigo

3 familiar (mucho) very, a lot

■ este libro es un rato bueno this is a very good book

■ sabe un rato de deportes she's a mine of information about sports

■ me gusta un rato I love it

\

FRASEOLOGÍA

al poco rato shortly after

a ratos at times

a ratos perdidos at odd moments

hacer pasar un mal rato a alguien to give somebody a rough time

¡hasta otro rato! see you later!

hay para rato it'll take a while

pasar el rato to kill time

pasar un buen rato to have a good time

pasar un mal rato to have a bad time

ratos libres free time sing

* * *

noun m.

while

* * *

SM

1) (=espacio de tiempo)

a) [uso incontable]

lleva bastante rato hablando — he's been talking for quite a while o for quite some time

• hace rato — a while ago, some time ago

hace rato que se fue — he left a while ago, he left some time ago

• largo rato — a long time

hablamos largo rato — we talked a long time

• más rato — Chile later

déjalo para más rato — leave it for later

nos vemos más rato — see you later

• mucho rato — a long time

¿vas a tardar mucho rato? — will you be long?

para rato —

tenemos carretera para rato — we still have quite a way to go

tenemos para rato con este trabajo — we still have quite a lot to do to get this work finished, we're still a long way from finishing this work

aún queda presidente para rato — the president will still be around for some time to come

cuerda 2)

b) [uso contable]

durante el rato que estuve esperando — during the short time I was waiting

estoy encantada de haber tenido este rato para charlar contigo — I'm delighted to have had this time to chat to you

en esos ratos me olvido de todo — at such moments I forget about everything

• otro rato, ya lo llamaré otro rato — I'll call him back another time

dile que se ponga otro rato al teléfono — can you call her back to the phone for a minute?

¡hasta otro rato! — so long!, I'll see you!

• todo el rato — the whole time, all the time

c)

• un rato — a (short) while

al cabo de un rato dijo ... — after a (short) while he said ...

dentro de un rato — in a (short) while

solo estuvo allí un rato — he was only there a (short) while

todavía tardará un rato en salir — it'll still be a while before he comes out

me quedaré un rato más — I'll stay a bit longer

me tuvo esperando un buen rato — she kept me waiting a good while o quite some time

escríbeme cuando tengas un rato — write to me when you have a spare moment

no regresó hasta pasado un buen rato — he didn't come back for a while

• dar un mal rato a algn — to give sb a hard time

estos hijos no dan más que malos ratos — these children give you nothing but grief

mujer, no te des mal rato — don't let yourself be upset

• pasar un buen/mal rato — to have a good/bad time

me hizo pasar un mal rato — I had a terrible time because of him

pasar el rato — to pass the time

• tener sus ratos — to have one's moments

ratos de ocio — leisure time

ratos libres — spare time, free time

2) [otras expresiones temporales]

• al rato — shortly afterwards, shortly after, a short while later

al poco rato sonó el teléfono — shortly afterwards o shortly after o a short while later the phone rang

llamaron al poco rato de irte — they called a short while after o shortly after you left

al rato viene — Méx * he'll be here soon o in a (short) while

voy a comer al rato — Méx * I'm going to eat soon o in a moment

• a cada rato — every other minute

caminaba despacio, parándose a cada rato — she walked slowly, stopping all the time o every other minute

• de rato en rato — every so often

3)

• ratos: a ratos — at times

a ratos, me parece sincero y a otros no — at times he seems sincere and at other times not

el enfermo solo se levanta a ratos — the patient only gets up from time to time o now and again

• de a ratos — Arg, Uru from time to time, now and again

• a ratos perdidos — in one's spare moments

trabajo en el jardín a ratos perdidos — I work in the garden in my spare moments

4) *

• un rato Esp [uso adverbial] (=bastante) —

es un rato difícil — it's pretty tricky *

es un rato listo — he's pretty smart *

pesan un rato — they weigh quite a bit, they're pretty heavy *

sabe un rato largo de matemáticas — she knows quite a bit of maths *

* * *

masculino

a) (tiempo breve) while

hace un rato — a while ago

ya hace rato que volvieron — they've been back a while o some time now

espera un ratito — wait a minute (colloq)

en mis ratos libres or de ocio — in my spare time

pasé un mal rato — it was terrible

iré dentro de un rato — I'll go shortly

b) (en locs)

a cada rato — (AmL)

me interrumpe a cada rato — he's always interrupting me

al (poco) rato — shortly afterwards

al poco rato de irte tú — shortly o just after you left

al rato se me quitó el dolor — shortly afterward(s) the pain went

sólo al rato me di cuenta — I only realized a little while later

a ratos — from time to time, now and again

a ratos perdidos — now and again

para rato — (fam)

tengo para rato — I'll be a while, I'll be some time

todavía hay para rato — there's still a long way to go

pasar el rato — to while away the time

un rato (largo) — (Esp fam) a lot

saber un rato largo de algo — to know a hell of a lot about something (colloq)

* * *

----

* a cada rato = every so often, every now and then, every now and again, every once in a while.

* a ratos = intermittently.

* disponer de un rato libre = spare + time.

* durar mucho rato = take + a long time.

* en los ratos libres de Uno = in + Posesivo + own time, on + Posesivo + own time.

* estar con amigos en la calle pasando el rato sin hacer nada = hang out + on the street.

* hace un rato = earlier on.

* lugar donde pasar el rato = hang out.

* matar el rato = hang around, hang about, pootle, dawdle.

* pasar el rato = hang out.

* pasar el rato con = kick + it with.

* pasar el rato con los amigos = hang out with + Posesivo + friends.

* pasar un buen rato = disport + Reflexivo.

* pasar un rato = say + hi.

* por pasar el rato = (just) for the fun of (doing) it, (just) for the hell of (doing) it.

* rato libre = free moment.

* tener tarea para rato = have + Posesivo + work cut out for + Pronombre, have + Posesivo + job cut out for + Pronombre.

* tener trabajo para rato = have + Posesivo + work cut out for + Pronombre, have + Posesivo + job cut out for + Pronombre.

* tener un rato libre = spare + time.

* todo el rato = all the while.

* un rato = awhile.

* * *

masculino

a) (tiempo breve) while

hace un rato — a while ago

ya hace rato que volvieron — they've been back a while o some time now

espera un ratito — wait a minute (colloq)

en mis ratos libres or de ocio — in my spare time

pasé un mal rato — it was terrible

iré dentro de un rato — I'll go shortly

b) (en locs)

a cada rato — (AmL)

me interrumpe a cada rato — he's always interrupting me

al (poco) rato — shortly afterwards

al poco rato de irte tú — shortly o just after you left

al rato se me quitó el dolor — shortly afterward(s) the pain went

sólo al rato me di cuenta — I only realized a little while later

a ratos — from time to time, now and again

a ratos perdidos — now and again

para rato — (fam)

tengo para rato — I'll be a while, I'll be some time

todavía hay para rato — there's still a long way to go

pasar el rato — to while away the time

un rato (largo) — (Esp fam) a lot

saber un rato largo de algo — to know a hell of a lot about something (colloq)

* * *

* a cada rato = every so often, every now and then, every now and again, every once in a while.

* a ratos = intermittently.

* disponer de un rato libre = spare + time.

* durar mucho rato = take + a long time.

* en los ratos libres de Uno = in + Posesivo + own time, on + Posesivo + own time.

* estar con amigos en la calle pasando el rato sin hacer nada = hang out + on the street.

* hace un rato = earlier on.

* lugar donde pasar el rato = hang out.

* matar el rato = hang around, hang about, pootle, dawdle.

* pasar el rato = hang out.

* pasar el rato con = kick + it with.

* pasar el rato con los amigos = hang out with + Posesivo + friends.

* pasar un buen rato = disport + Reflexivo.

* pasar un rato = say + hi.

* por pasar el rato = (just) for the fun of (doing) it, (just) for the hell of (doing) it.

* rato libre = free moment.

* tener tarea para rato = have + Posesivo + work cut out for + Pronombre, have + Posesivo + job cut out for + Pronombre.

* tener trabajo para rato = have + Posesivo + work cut out for + Pronombre, have + Posesivo + job cut out for + Pronombre.

* tener un rato libre = spare + time.

* todo el rato = all the while.

* un rato = awhile.

* * *

rato

masculine

1 (tiempo breve) while

hace un rato que se fue he left a while ago, it's a while since he left

ya hace rato que volvieron they've been back a while o some time now

¿puedes salir un rato? can you come out for a while?

espera un ratito que ya acabo wait a minute o (colloq) hang on a second, I've nearly finished

llevo un buen rato esperando I've been waiting for quite some time o for quite a while

en mis ratos libres or de ocio in my spare time

pasé un mal rato it was terrible

dentro de un ratito te llamo, que ahora estoy ocupado I'll call you in a little while, I'm busy right now

2 (en locs):

a cada rato (AmL): me interrumpe a cada rato he keeps interrupting me every five minutes o the whole time

al (poco) rato: llegó al poco rato de irte tú he arrived shortly o just after you left

al rato se me quitó el dolor shortly afterward(s) o a short time later the pain went

sólo al rato me di cuenta de la gravedad del asunto I only realized how serious the situation was a little while later

¿quieres bailar? — al rato (Méx); do you want to dance? — later o in a while

a ratos from time to time, now and again

a ratos perdidos now and then, now and again

de a rato or (Esp) de a ratos from time to time, now and again

más rato (Chi); later

voy a guardar este pedazo para más rato I'm going to save this piece for later

para rato (fam): no me esperes, tengo para rato don't wait for me, I'll be a while o I'll be some time o I'll be quite a long time

todavía hay para rato there's still a long way to go ( o a lot to do etc)

si está hablando con Juan tenemos para rato if she's talking to Juan, we'll be here all day/all night (colloq hum)

pasar el rato to while away o pass the time

me puse a leer una revista para pasar el rato I started reading a magazine to while away o pass the time

un rato largo (Esp fam): sabe un rato largo de música she sure knows a lot o she knows a hell of a lot about music (colloq)

¡esto pesa un rato largo! this weighs a ton! (colloq)

* * *

 

rato sustantivo masculino

a) (tiempo breve) while;

◊ hace un rato a while ago;

espera un ratito wait a minute (colloq);
en mis ratos libres in my spare time;
pasé un mal rato it was terrible;
iré dentro de un rato I'll go shortly

b) (en locs)

◊ a cada rato (AmL): me interrumpe a cada rato he keeps interrupting me;

al (poco) rato shortly afterwards;
al poco rato de irte tú shortly o just after you left;
a ratos from time to time;
para rato (fam): tengo para rato I'll be a while, I'll be some time;
todavía hay para rato there's still a long way to go;
pasar el rato to while away the time
rato sustantivo masculino
1 (porción de tiempo) while, time: al poco rato llegó Juan, shortly after Juan came
me hizo pasar un mal rato, she gave me an awful time
ratos libres, spare time sing
♦ Locuciones: no tengas prisa, hay para rato, take it easy, it'll take a while
pasar el rato, to while away the time
a cada rato, every other minute
a ratos, at times, now and again
un buen rato, a long time
familiar un rato (largo), very o a lot: sabe un rato (largo) de ajedrez, she knows a good deal about chess
'rato' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
aprovechar
- cacho
- correa
- decir
- entretenerse
- expansión
- hueca
- hueco
- llevar
- menudencia
- reposar
- romper
- tela
- trago
- amable
- conversar
- libre
- para
English:
after
- awhile
- fill in
- mess about
- mess around
- spell
- stop off
- time
- wait
- while
- while away
- bit
- by
- come
- linger
- pass
- snatch
- talk

* * *

rato nm

while;

estuvimos hablando mucho rato we were talking for quite a while;

te llamaré en que tenga un rato (libre) I'll call you as soon as I've got a free moment;

hace un rato estaba en la oficina she was in the office just a short while ago;

a cada rato viene a hacerme preguntas he keeps coming and asking me questions (all the time);

al poco rato (de) shortly after;

al rato me di cuenta de que no le había dado mi teléfono a bit later I realized I hadn't given her my phone number;

Méx

¿vamos a comer algo? – al rato shall we go and have something to eat? – in a while;

a ratos at times;

a ratos perdidos at odd moments;

un buen rato [momento agradable] a good time;

[mucho tiempo] a good while, quite some time;

pasamos un buen rato con ellos we had a good time with them;

¡hasta otro rato!, Méx [m5]¡nos vemos al rato! see you soon!;

con esto hay para rato this should keep us going for a while;

va para rato it will take some (considerable) time;

tenemos lluvia para rato the rain will be with us for some time;

pasar el rato to kill time, to pass the time;

pasar un mal rato to suffer;

me hizo pasar un mal rato he made me suffer;

ratos libres spare time;

Esp Fam

un rato (largo): se enfadó un rato largo she was dead annoyed;

Esp Fam

hay que saber un rato (largo) de economía para ocupar ese puesto you have to know loads about economics in that job

* * *

rato

m

1 time, while;

ratos libres spare time sg ;

al poco rato after a short time o while;

todo el rato all the time;

a ratos at times, from time to time;

a ratos perdidos now and again;

a cada rato always;

un buen rato a good while, a pretty long time;

pasar el rato pass the time;

he pasado un buen/mal rato I’ve had a great/an awful time;

¡hasta otro rato! see you later!

2 (mucho)

:

hay para rato there is a lot to do;

saber un rato largo de algo know a lot about sth

* * *

rato nm

1) : while

2)

pasar el rato : to pass the time

3)

a cada rato : all the time, constantly

les sacaba dinero a cada rato: he was always taking money from them

4)

al poco rato : later, shortly after

* * *

rato n while

hace un rato que lo espero I've been waiting for him for a while

al poco rato shortly after

a ratos from time to time

para rato

no nos esperes, tenemos para rato don't wait for us, we'll be quite a while

hay para rato it's going to take a long time

pasar el rato to pass the time