The phrase "llegar tarde" is a verb phrase (composed of the infinitive verb "llegar" and the adverb "tarde").
/ʎeˈɣaɾ ˈtaɾðe/
"Llegar tarde" literally translates to "to arrive late." It is commonly used in both written and oral contexts to refer to someone who arrives later than the expected or designated time for an event, meeting, or appointment. This phrase is frequently used in everyday conversations.
In terms of frequency, it is a standard expression in Spanish, appearing regularly in casual speech, as well as in more formal writing, such as articles, emails, and reports.
Voy a llegar tarde a la reunión.
I'm going to arrive late to the meeting.
Siempre llega tarde a clase.
He always arrives late to class.
Si no sales ahora, vas a llegar tarde.
If you don't leave now, you're going to arrive late.
The phrase "llegar tarde" is often used in various idiomatic expressions or contexts that convey the meaning of lateness or missed opportunities. Here are a few examples:
Llegaste tarde a la fiesta, ya se había terminado.
You arrived late to the party; it had already ended.
A veces, llegar tarde es mejor que no llegar.
Sometimes, arriving late is better than not arriving at all.
Siempre llegamos tarde a cualquier lugar.
We always arrive late to any place.
Llegar tarde no es una buena costumbre.
Being late is not a good habit.
Si llegas tarde al tren, tendrás que esperar el siguiente.
If you arrive late to the train, you will have to wait for the next one.
Ella llegó tarde y perdió su oportunidad.
She arrived late and missed her chance.
A menudo, llegar tarde puede dar una mala impresión.
Often, arriving late can give a bad impression.
The verb "llegar" comes from the Latin "plicāre", which means "to fold" or "to wrap." It evolved into the Old Spanish "llegar," meaning "to reach" or "to come." The adverb "tarde" comes from the Latin "tardus," which means "slow" or "late." The combination of both terms thus conveys the action of arriving after the expected time.
This summarizes the phrase "llegar tarde" in a detailed manner, providing insights into its usage, examples, idiomatic expressions, etymology, synonyms, and antonyms.