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tarde

nounBeginnerHigh frequency

What does “tarde” mean in English?

  1. 1.afternoon

  2. 2.late

Example sentences

  • Por la tarde estudio en casa.

    In the afternoon I study at home.

  • Buenas tardes.

    Good afternoon.

  • Las cinco de la tarde.

    Five o'clock in the afternoon.

How to use it

Tarde means 'afternoon' / 'evening' (the noun, fem.: la tarde). Spans roughly 2pm-9pm in Spain. Late evening/night transitions to 'noche'.

Common mistake

Spanish 'tarde' covers both English 'afternoon' AND 'evening' (until ~9pm). Use 'la noche' for late evening / night.

Topics

Related Beginner words

Reference

This entry’s teaching guidance follows A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish (Butt, Benjamin & Moreira Rodríguez, Routledge), 32.