(el) rato
rato = a little while; a brief, arbitrary amount of time (noun, masculine)
Say it out loud!
Syllabic breakdown: ra-to
Sounds like: RRAH-tho
Use in a sentence!
Voy a salir en un rato.
I am going to leave in a little bit.
Hace rato que hablé con María.
It’s been a little bit since I’ve spoken to Maria.
Pronunciation tips:
When a word begins with the letter “r” in Spanish, you must roll your tongue to pronounce it correctly.
Tongue rolling can be tricky for some native English speakers. If you have trouble rolling your Rs, try taking a breath and allow some slight airflow just at the start of the word. The very tip of your tongue should touch the roof of your mouth just behind your teeth, almost as if you were going to say a word that started with the letter “d”. The resulting effect is almost like the purring of a cat.
The “t” in the word “rato” is pronounced “thicker” than the English “t”. Whereas in English the “t” sounds more “airy” or “crackly,” the sounds closer like the “th” sounds in the word “them”, though not as soft.
Remember it:
“Rato” refers to a “rate” of time.
