Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Slow Down in Spanish
Más despacio · verb · mahs dehs-PAH-syoh
The most common way to say slow down in Spanish is 'más despacio' when asking someone to speak or move more slowly. For driving contexts, 'reduce la velocidad' or 'baja la velocidad' is more appropriate.
Say 'más despacio' as mahs dehs-PAH-syoh. The stress in 'despacio' falls on the second syllable.
¡Más despacio, por favor! No te entiendo.
Slow down, please! I don't understand you.
slow down in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for slow down, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| más despacio | slow down | mahs dehs-PAH-syoh | Default, widely understood |
| reducir la velocidad | slow down | driving or formal context | |
| bajar la velocidad | slow down | general usage | |
| calmarse | slow down | when meaning to relax |
How Native Speakers Use Más despacio
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Speaking too fast
Habla más despacio, estoy aprendiendo español.
Speak more slowly, I'm learning Spanish.
Asking a native speaker to slow their speech.
Driving
Reduce la velocidad en esta zona escolar.
Slow down in this school zone.
A traffic instruction near a school.
Life advice
Necesitas bajar el ritmo y descansar.
You need to slow down and rest.
Advising someone who is overworked.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Más despacio
Translating literally as 'lento abajo'
Incorrect: ¡Lento abajo!
Correct: ¡Más despacio!
Spanish does not translate 'slow down' word-for-word. 'Más despacio' (more slowly) is the natural phrasing.
Using 'despacio' without 'más'
Incorrect: Habla despacio.
Correct: Habla más despacio.
While 'habla despacio' (speak slowly) is grammatically correct, 'más despacio' better captures the meaning of slowing down from a current faster pace.
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Common Questions About slow down in Spanish
- When should I use 'más despacio' versus 'reduce la velocidad'?
- Use 'más despacio' when asking someone to slow their speech, movements, or pace in general, and 'reduce la velocidad' specifically when talking about driving or mechanical speed.
- How do you tell a driver to slow down in Spanish?
- In a car, you can say '¡Baja la velocidad!' or '¡Ve más despacio!' — both clearly communicate the need to reduce driving speed.
- Is there a single verb meaning 'to slow down' in Spanish?
- The verb 'desacelerar' means to decelerate, and 'aminorar' (as in 'aminorar la marcha') means to lessen one's pace, but everyday speech favors phrases like 'ir más despacio.'