How to Say Slowly in Spanish
If you want to say “slowly” in Spanish, you will generally want to use “despacio.” As seems to be the rule, you’ll hear another word in conversation, “pausadamente,” that also means “slowly.” How do you know when to use which? A native speaker would likely say that “pausadamente” is best used when you’re talking about moving something easily, or gently. On the other hand, “despacio” better describes the speed of an activity. Here are a few examples.
- Ella solicita al orador que hable más despacio. = She asked the speaker to slow down.
- Pausadamente, ella desliza las suyas por la mesa. = Slowly, she put her cards on the table.
Getting comfortable with several Spanish options for a single adverb can take some time. But remember, you don’t have to incorporate them all at once. As you move forward on your language journey, you’ll learn to distinguish the exact meaning of the word through the context of the sentence.
Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion® methodology teaches you to speak the language, not just memorize the words. What makes it effective is that we prepare you to use your new language in your everyday life. So it’s not just about the features, but what you’re able to do because of them. It helps you get ready to handle any situation with confidence.
Learn Spanish Words and Phrases
People choose to learn Spanish for many different reasons. Some do so because they find themselves encountering the language in their daily lives. After all, Spanish is heard in popular music, movies, and TV shows. Other people want to learn Spanish based on their plans to volunteer, work, or vacation in any of the 20 countries where Spanish is the official language. Whatever your reason for learning Spanish, you can get off to a great start by first learning how to pronounce some very basic words and phrases. It is a necessary step to understand and be understood by any of the 437 million people around the world who speak Spanish.
Some beginning Spanish learners focus on memorizing lengthy lists of Spanish vocabulary words and phrases. Then they become frustrated because they have little-to-no ability to participate in everyday Spanish conversation. That’s why it’s strongly recommended that new Spanish language learners focus on understanding and pronouncing basic words and phrases most commonly used in real-world Spanish. This smart and practical approach to learning will help you become a confident and comfortable Spanish speaker.
You need to know that Spanish does have some pronunciation distinctions that can make it a challenge for new learners. As one example, the letter r is pronounced differently and takes some practice for most new learners. This distinct sound is formed by tapping the tip of the tongue on the roof of the mouth, about a third of the way back in the mouth. Some Spanish language experts suggest new learners practice making the “tt” sound, as it sounds in the English word butter.
Acquiring the skills to accurately pronounce Spanish requires immediate feedback on your pronunciation efforts. Rosetta Stone helps you get the pronunciation just right in a snap with our patented TruAccent™ speech-recognition engine because it instantly compares your voice to native and non-native speakers, so you get real-time feedback for the most accurate pronunciation. It’s also adjustable, which allows you to fine-tune your accent. TruAccent is among the most powerful tools for helping you learn and speak the Spanish language.
Once you’re comfortable with the basic Spanish words and short phrases, you can move onto the longer phrases used in everyday conversation. Rosetta Stone’s 10-minute language lessons are designed to lead you along this natural path to learning. You’ll first focus on learning Spanish basic words and phrases, then you’ll move onto learning longer Spanish phrases, and then towards learning to speak Spanish with confidence.
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Surround yourself with Spanish whenever, wherever with the Rosetta Stone app .
Download a unit and knock it out on the train or a flight. Select a 5-10 minute lesson and sneak it in while you wait in line or for your ride to show up. And explore dynamic features, like Seek and Speak, where you can point at an object in the real world and get a translation.
The best part? You don’t have to choose between app or desktop. Both come with your subscription and sync, so you can switch between devices seamlessly.
