Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Lento in English: Slow
Lento · adjective · LEHN-toh
The Spanish adjective lento translates to slow in English, describing something that moves, happens, or progresses at a low speed.
LEHN-toh
El servicio fue muy lento en el restaurante.
The service was very slow at the restaurant.
Lento In English in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for lento in english, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| lento | lento in english | LEHN-toh | Default, widely understood |
| slow | lento in english | most common English equivalent | |
| sluggish | lento in english | when describing lack of energy |
How Native Speakers Use Lento
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Traffic complaint
El tráfico está muy lento hoy.
Traffic is very slow today.
Commenting on traffic conditions.
Learning pace
Aprendo lento pero seguro.
I learn slowly but surely.
Describing one's learning speed.
Technology
Mi computadora está demasiado lenta.
My computer is too slow.
Complaining about device performance.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Lento
Using lento as an adverb without change
Incorrect: Él habla lento. (technically accepted colloquially)
Correct: Él habla lentamente.
While lento is sometimes used colloquially as an adverb, the grammatically correct adverb form is lentamente (slowly).
Not matching gender
Incorrect: La conexión es lento.
Correct: La conexión es lenta.
Lento must agree in gender with the noun it describes — use lenta for feminine nouns like conexión.
Lock in Lento In English Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Lento used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using lento in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El servicio fue muy lento en el restaurante. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Lento In English in Spanish
- What does lento mean in English?
- Lento means slow — it describes anything that lacks speed, from physical movement to processes, and is used the same way slow is used in English.
- Is lento also used in music?
- In musical terminology, lento indicates a slow tempo, and this usage exists in both Spanish and English — it comes directly from Italian and Latin, meaning the same in all three contexts.
- What is the opposite of lento in Spanish?
- The opposite is rápido, meaning fast or quick — you can also use veloz for a more literary or formal tone.