How to conjugate Tardar in Spanish
To delay, to be slow Regular AR Verb
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Indicative tenses of Tardar
- Tardar in the Indicative Present
- Tardar in the Indicative Preterite
- Tardar in the Indicative Imperfect
- Tardar in the Indicative Present Continuous
- Tardar in the Indicative Informal Future
- Tardar in the Indicative Future
- Tardar in the Indicative Conditional
- Tardar in the Indicative Present Perfect
- Tardar in the Indicative Past Perfect
- Tardar in the Indicative Future Perfect
- Tardar in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
- Subjunctive tenses of Tardar
- Tardar in the Subjunctive Present
- Tardar in the Subjunctive Imperfect
- Tardar in the Subjunctive Future
- Tardar in the Subjunctive Present Perfect
- Tardar in the Subjunctive Past Perfect
- Tardar in the Subjunctive Future Perfect
- Imperative tenses of Tardar
- Tardar in the Imperative Affirmative
- Tardar in the Imperative Negative
- Practice Tardar conjugations (free mobile app)
Introduction
Tardar is the Spanish verb for "to delay, to be slow". It is a regular AR verb. Read on below to see how it is conjugated in the 18 major Spanish tenses!
Similar verbs to tardar include: retrasar.
Spanish | English | |
---|---|---|
Infinitive | tardar | to delay, to be slow |
Past participle | tardado | delayed |
Gerund | tardando | delaying |

Get detailed verb tables (with full English translation) for Tardar and 1,550+ other verbs.
Plus lessons and interactive quizzes to help you master conjugating in Spanish. Download for free now.
Indicative Tenses of Tardar
Tardar in the Indicative Present
The Indicative Present of tardar is used to talk about situations, events or thoughts that are happening now or in the near future. It is also used to talk about facts and truths. For example, "tardo", meaning "I delay".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | tardo | I delay |
Tú | tardas | you delay |
Ella / Él / Usted | tarda | s/he delay, you (formal) delay |
Nosotras / Nosotros | tardamos | we delay |
Vosotras / Vosotros | tardáis | you (plural) delay |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tardan | they delay, you (plural formal) delay |
Tardar in the Indicative Preterite
The Indicative Preterite of tardar is used to talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time. For example, "tardé", meaning "I delayed".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | tardé | I delayed |
Tú | tardaste | you delayed |
Ella / Él / Usted | tardó | s/he delayed, you (formal) delayed |
Nosotras / Nosotros | tardamos | we delayed |
Vosotras / Vosotros | tardasteis | you (plural) delayed |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tardaron | they delayed, you (plural formal) delayed |
Tardar in the Indicative Imperfect
The Indicative Imperfect of tardar is used to describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do. For example, "tardaba", meaning "I used to delay".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | tardaba | I used to delay |
Tú | tardabas | you used to delay |
Ella / Él / Usted | tardaba | s/he used to delay, you (formal) used to delay |
Nosotras / Nosotros | tardábamos | we used to delay |
Vosotras / Vosotros | tardabais | you (plural) used to delay |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tardaban | they used to delay, you (plural formal) used to delay |
Tardar in the Indicative Present Continuous
The Indicative Present Continuous of tardar is used to talk about something that is happening continuosly or right now. For example, "estoy tardando", meaning "I am delaying".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | estoy tardando | I am delaying |
Tú | estás tardando | you are delaying |
Ella / Él / Usted | está tardando | s/he is delaying, you (formal) are delaying |
Nosotras / Nosotros | estamos tardando | we are delaying |
Vosotras / Vosotros | estáis tardando | you (plural) are delaying |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | están tardando | they are delaying, you (plural formal) are delaying |
Tardar in the Indicative Informal Future
The Indicative Informal Future of tardar is used to talk about something that will happen in the future, especially in the near future. For example, "voy a tardar", meaning "I am going to delay".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | voy a tardar | I am going to delay |
Tú | vas a tardar | you are going to delay |
Ella / Él / Usted | va a tardar | s/he is going to delay, you (formal) are going to delay |
Nosotras / Nosotros | vamos a tardar | we are going to delay |
Vosotras / Vosotros | vais a tardar | you (plural) are going to delay |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | van a tardar | they are going to delay, you (plural formal) are going to delay |
Tardar in the Indicative Future
The Indicative Future of tardar is used to talk about something that will happen in the future. For example, "tardaré", meaning "I will delay".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | tardaré | I will delay |
Tú | tardarás | you will delay |
Ella / Él / Usted | tardará | s/he will delay, you (formal) will delay |
Nosotras / Nosotros | tardaremos | we will delay |
Vosotras / Vosotros | tardaréis | you (plural) will delay |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tardarán | they will delay, you (plural formal) will delay |
Tardar in the Indicative Conditional
The Indicative Conditional of tardar is used to talk about something that may happen in the future, hypothesis and probabilities. For example, "tardaría", meaning "I would delay".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | tardaría | I would delay |
Tú | tardarías | you would delay |
Ella / Él / Usted | tardaría | s/he would delay, you (formal) would delay |
Nosotras / Nosotros | tardaríamos | we would delay |
Vosotras / Vosotros | tardaríais | you (plural) would delay |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tardarían | they would delay, you (plural formal) would delay |
Tardar in the Indicative Present Perfect
The Indicative Present Perfect of tardar is used to describe actions that started recently (in the past) and are still happening now or things that have been done recently. For example, "he tardado", meaning "I have delayed".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | he tardado | I have delayed |
Tú | has tardado | you have delayed |
Ella / Él / Usted | ha tardado | s/he has delayed, you (formal) have delayed |
Nosotras / Nosotros | hemos tardado | we have delayed |
Vosotras / Vosotros | habéis tardado | you (plural) have delayed |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | han tardado | they have delayed, you (plural formal) have delayed |
Tardar in the Indicative Past Perfect
The Indicative Past Perfect of tardar is used to talk about actions that happened before another action in the past. For example, "había tardado", meaning "I had delayed".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | había tardado | I had delayed |
Tú | habías tardado | you had delayed |
Ella / Él / Usted | había tardado | s/he had delayed, you (formal) had delayed |
Nosotras / Nosotros | habíamos tardado | we had delayed |
Vosotras / Vosotros | habíais tardado | you (plural) had delayed |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habían tardado | they had delayed, you (plural formal) had delayed |
Tardar in the Indicative Future Perfect
The Indicative Future Perfect of tardar is used to talk about something that will have happened in the future after something else has already happened. For example, "habré tardado", meaning "I will have delayed".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | habré tardado | I will have delayed |
Tú | habrás tardado | you will have delayed |
Ella / Él / Usted | habrá tardado | s/he will have delayed, you (formal) will have delayed |
Nosotras / Nosotros | habremos tardado | we will have delayed |
Vosotras / Vosotros | habréis tardado | you (plural) will have delayed |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habrán tardado | they will have delayed, you (plural formal) will have delayed |
Tardar in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
The Indicative Conditional Perfect of tardar is used to talk about something that would have happened in the future but didn’t due to another action. For example, "habría tardado", meaning "I would have delayed".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | habría tardado | I would have delayed |
Tú | habrías tardado | you would have delayed |
Ella / Él / Usted | habría tardado | s/he would have delayed, you (formal) would have delayed |
Nosotras / Nosotros | habríamos tardado | we would have delayed |
Vosotras / Vosotros | habríais tardado | you (plural) would have delayed |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habrían tardado | they would have delayed, you (plural formal) would have delayed |

Get detailed verb tables (with full English translation) for Tardar and 1,550+ other verbs.
Plus lessons and interactive quizzes to help you master conjugating in Spanish. Download for free now.
Subjunctive Tenses of Tardar
Tardar in the Subjunctive Present
The Subjunctive Present is used to talk about situations of uncertainty, or emotions such as wishes, desires and hopes. It differs from the indicative mood due to the uncertainty of the events which are being spoken about. For example, "tarde", meaning "I delay".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | tarde | I delay |
Tú | tardes | you delay |
Ella / Él / Usted | tarde | s/he delay, you (formal) delay |
Nosotras / Nosotros | tardemos | we delay |
Vosotras / Vosotros | tardéis | you (plural) delay |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tarden | they delay, you (plural formal) delay |
Tardar in the Subjunctive Imperfect
The Subjunctive Imperfect is used to speak about unlikely or uncertain events in the past or to cast an opinion (emotional) about something that happened in the past. For example, "tardara", meaning "I delayed".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | tardara | I delayed |
Tú | tardaras | you delayed |
Ella / Él / Usted | tardara | s/he delayed, you (formal) delayed |
Nosotras / Nosotros | tardáramos | we delayed |
Vosotras / Vosotros | tardarais | you (plural) delayed |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tardaran | they delayed, you (plural formal) delayed |
Tardar in the Subjunctive Future
The Subjunctive Future is used to speak about hypothetical situations, and actions/events that may happen in the future. For example, "tardare", meaning "I will delay".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | tardare | I will delay |
Tú | tardares | you will delay |
Ella / Él / Usted | tardare | s/he will delay, you (formal) will delay |
Nosotras / Nosotros | tardáremos | we will delay |
Vosotras / Vosotros | tardareis | you (plural) will delay |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tardaren | they will delay, you (plural formal) will delay |
Tardar in the Subjunctive Present Perfect
The Subjunctive Present Perfect is used to describe past actions or events that are still connected to the present day and to speak about an action that will have happened by a certain time in the future. For example, "haya tardado", meaning "I have delayed".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | haya tardado | I have delayed |
Tú | hayas tardado | you have delayed |
Ella / Él / Usted | haya tardado | s/he has delayed, you (formal) have delayed |
Nosotras / Nosotros | hayamos tardado | we have delayed |
Vosotras / Vosotros | hayáis tardado | you (plural) have delayed |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hayan tardado | they have delayed, you (plural formal) have delayed |
Tardar in the Subjunctive Past Perfect
The Subjunctive Past Perfect is used to speak about hypothetical situations, and actions/events that occurred before other actions/events in the past. For example, "hubiera tardado", meaning "I had delayed".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | hubiera tardado | I had delayed |
Tú | hubieras tardado | you had delayed |
Ella / Él / Usted | hubiera tardado | s/he had delayed, you (formal) had delayed |
Nosotras / Nosotros | hubiéramos tardado | we had delayed |
Vosotras / Vosotros | hubierais tardado | you (plural) had delayed |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hubieran tardado | they had delayed, you (plural formal) had delayed |
Tardar in the Subjunctive Future Perfect
The Subjunctive Future Perfect is used to speak about something that will have happened if a hypothetical situations occurs in the future. For example, "hubiere tardado", meaning "I will have delayed".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | hubiere tardado | I will have delayed |
Tú | hubieres tardado | you will have delayed |
Ella / Él / Usted | hubiere tardado | s/he will have delayed, you (formal) will have delayed |
Nosotras / Nosotros | hubiéremos tardado | we will have delayed |
Vosotras / Vosotros | hubiereis tardado | you (plural) will have delayed |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hubieren tardado | they will have delayed, you (plural formal) will have delayed |

Get detailed verb tables (with full English translation) for Tardar and 1,550+ other verbs.
Plus lessons and interactive quizzes to help you master conjugating in Spanish. Download for free now.
Imperative Tenses of Tardar
Tardar in the Imperative Affirmative
The Imperative Affirmative is used to give orders and commands, to tell someone to do something. For example, "tarde", meaning "(to you formal) delay!".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | - | - |
Tú | tarda | (to you) delay! |
Ella / Él / Usted | tarde | (to you formal) delay! |
Nosotras / Nosotros | tardemos | let's delay! |
Vosotras / Vosotros | tardad | (to you plural) delay! |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | tarden | (to you plural formal) delay! |
Tardar in the Imperative Negative
The Imperative Negative is used to give orders and commands, telling someone not to do something. For example, "no tarde", meaning "(to you formal) don't delay!".
Pronoun | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
Yo | - | - |
Tú | no tardes | (to you) don't delay! |
Ella / Él / Usted | no tarde | (to you formal) don't delay! |
Nosotras / Nosotros | no tardemos | let's not delay! |
Vosotras / Vosotros | no tardéis | (to you plural) don't delay! |
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | no tarden | (to you plural formal) don't delay! |
Practice Tardar conjugations (free mobile app)
Get full conjugation tables for Tardar and 1,550+ other verbs on-the-go with Ella Verbs for iOS and Android.
We also guide you through learning all Spanish tenses and test your knowledge with conjugation quizzes. Download it for free!


About Ella Verbs
👋 Hola! We built Ella Verbs to help people (and ourselves!) master one of the hardest parts of Spanish – verb conjugation. It guides you through learning all tenses in an easy-to-follow way, giving you levels of bite-sized lessons and fun quizzes. Here is a 6 minute overview of all of the app's features:
It has changed a lot over the 4+ years we have been working on it, but the goal remains the same – to help you master Spanish conjugation! You can download and try it for free, and, if you do, please send any and all feedback our way!
- Jane & Brian
Want to explore other verb conjugations?
Why not check out Esconder – to hide or see the complete list of verbs here.
Back to top