A1 adjective #4,873 más común 2 min de lectura

slow

Explicación de slow a tu nivel:

Slow means not fast. A turtle is slow. A rabbit is fast. If you walk slowly, you are not running. You can say: 'The bus is very slow today.' It is easy to remember!

When something is slow, it takes a long time. You might have a slow internet connection, which is frustrating. We use it to describe speed, like 'a slow driver' or 'a slow train'.

At this level, you can use slow for more than just speed. You can say business is slow, meaning there are not many customers. You can also say someone is slow to react to a situation.

Use slow to describe processes or trends. A slow recovery in the economy or a slow-moving project shows you can use the word in professional contexts. Note the difference between the adjective and the adverb 'slowly'.

In advanced English, slow can imply a lack of mental agility, though be careful as it can be offensive. You might describe a slow-burning tension in a novel or a slow-motion collapse of a system. It adds nuance to your descriptions.

Mastery of slow involves understanding its figurative weight. It can describe a slow-witted person or a slow-paced lifestyle. In literature, it often contrasts with the frantic nature of modern life, acting as a thematic anchor for reflection.

slow en 30 segundos

  • Slow means not fast.
  • It can be an adjective or verb.
  • Use 'slowly' as an adverb.
  • It is a very common word.

When we call something slow, we are describing its pace. It is the opposite of fast. You might use it for a person walking, a computer loading, or even a boring movie.

Think of the speed at which things happen. If something is slow, it is taking its time. It is a very common word in English, and you will hear it used in almost every part of your daily life.

The word slow comes from the Old English word slāw, which meant inactive or sluggish. It has roots in Germanic languages, sharing a history with words like the Dutch sleeuw.

Over centuries, it evolved from describing a person's character to describing the speed of movement. It is a Germanic survivor, keeping its simple, punchy sound through hundreds of years of language change.

You can use slow in many ways. It is common to say a slow car or a slow day. It is neutral in tone, meaning you can use it with friends or in a professional office setting.

Be careful with adverbs! While we say 'go slow' in casual speech, the grammatically 'correct' adverb is 'slowly'. However, 'slow' is often used as a flat adverb in signs like 'Drive Slow'.

Idioms make English colorful. Slow and steady wins the race means consistency is better than speed. Slow on the uptake means someone is slow to understand something.

Other favorites include slow burn, for a story that builds up over time, and slow motion, which we use to describe moving at a very reduced speed.

Slow is a one-syllable adjective. In British and American English, the IPA is /sloʊ/. It rhymes with go, low, show, flow, and grow.

It is a regular adjective, so the comparative is slower and the superlative is slowest. It is very straightforward to use in sentences!

Dato curioso

It comes from the same roots as the word 'sloth'.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /sləʊ/

Long 'o' sound like 'go'

EE.UU. /sloʊ/

Long 'o' with a slight glide

Errores comunes

  • Pronouncing it like 'slaw'
  • Adding an extra syllable
  • Missing the 'l' sound

Rima con

low go show flow grow

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 1/5

very easy

Escritura 1/5

easy

Expresión oral 1/5

easy

Escucha 1/5

easy

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

fast go time

Aprende después

sluggish leisurely gradual

Avanzado

languid deliberate

Gramática que debes saber

Adjective vs Adverb

Slow vs Slowly

Comparatives

Slower

Superlatives

Slowest

Ejemplos por nivel

1

The turtle is slow.

Turtle = slow animal

Adjective after verb

2

My bike is slow.

My bike = not fast

Simple sentence

3

He walks slow.

Walking speed

Casual usage

4

The line is slow.

Waiting in line

Describing a situation

5

Is the train slow?

Question about speed

Interrogative

6

It is a slow day.

Not busy

Abstract usage

7

Don't be slow!

Hurry up

Imperative

8

The computer is slow.

Tech speed

Subject-verb-adj

1

The traffic is very slow today.

2

She is a slow reader.

3

We had a slow start to the morning.

4

The internet is too slow for gaming.

5

He is slow to finish his homework.

6

The movie was a bit slow at the beginning.

7

It is a slow process to learn a language.

8

Don't go too slow on the highway.

1

Business has been slow this quarter.

2

He is slow to trust new people.

3

The economy is showing slow growth.

4

We took a slow walk through the forest.

5

The project is making slow progress.

6

She has a slow, steady way of working.

7

The service in this restaurant is incredibly slow.

8

Life in the countryside is much slower.

1

The company is slow to adapt to new technology.

2

There was a slow realization that things had changed.

3

He prefers a slow-paced lifestyle.

4

The detective noticed the slow movement of the suspect.

5

It was a slow-burning fire that lasted all night.

6

The change in policy was slow to take effect.

7

She is slow to anger but quick to forgive.

8

The slow decline of the empire was inevitable.

1

The film is a slow-burn thriller that pays off at the end.

2

His slow, deliberate speech commanded attention in the room.

3

The transition to renewable energy has been frustratingly slow.

4

She possesses a slow, quiet confidence.

5

The slow erosion of rights is a major concern.

6

The slow-motion replay showed the foul clearly.

7

He is slow-witted but incredibly kind.

8

The slow pace of the negotiations disappointed everyone.

1

The slow, rhythmic ticking of the clock filled the room.

2

Despite the slow start, the symphony reached a crescendo.

3

The slow-moving clouds created a melancholic atmosphere.

4

His slow, measured response indicated deep thought.

5

The slow decay of the old mansion was tragic.

6

The slow, methodical approach yielded the best results.

7

She felt the slow creep of exhaustion.

8

The slow-motion nature of the accident was surreal.

Sinónimos

sluggish leisurely unhurried gradual poky dawdling

Colocaciones comunes

slow down
slow motion
slow start
slow pace
slow progress
slow growth
slow service
slow to react
painfully slow
incredibly slow

Modismos y expresiones

"slow and steady wins the race"

consistency is better than speed

Don't rush; slow and steady wins the race.

neutral

"slow on the uptake"

slow to understand

He is a bit slow on the uptake.

casual

"at a snail's pace"

very slowly

The work is moving at a snail's pace.

neutral

"slow burn"

gradual development

The movie is a slow burn.

casual

"take it slow"

go at a relaxed pace

Let's take it slow today.

casual

"slow-motion"

very slow movement

It felt like it was in slow-motion.

neutral

Fácil de confundir

slow vs slowly

both refer to speed

adjective vs adverb

He is slow; he walks slowly.

slow vs sluggish

both mean slow

sluggish implies lack of energy

The market is sluggish.

slow vs gradual

both imply time

gradual means happening in steps

A gradual change.

slow vs delayed

both imply time

delayed means late

The flight was delayed.

Patrones de oraciones

A1

Subject + is + slow

The computer is slow.

B1

Subject + is + slow to + verb

He is slow to answer.

A2

Subject + slows + down

The car slows down.

A2

It is a slow + noun

It is a slow day.

B2

Subject + is + getting + slower

He is getting slower.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

slowness the state of being slow

Verbos

slow to reduce speed

Adjetivos

slow not fast

Relacionado

sluggish synonym

Cómo usarlo

frequency

9

Escala de formalidad

formal neutral casual slang

Consejos

💡

Memory Palace

Imagine a snail on your desk.
💡

Native Speakers

Use it to complain about traffic.
🌍

Cultural Insight

Don't call people slow.
💡

Grammar Shortcut

Slow = Adjective, Slowly = Adverb.
💡

Say It Right

Make the 'o' long.
💡

Don't Make This Mistake

Don't say 'more slow'.
💡

Did You Know?

It shares roots with 'sloth'.
💡

Study Smart

Use it in sentences about your day.
💡

Comparative Rule

Use -er for one syllable.
💡

Rhyme Time

Rhymes with flow.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

SLO-w: Snail Loves Only walking.

Asociación visual

A snail moving across a leaf.

Word Web

speed time pace delay

Desafío

Try to say everything in slow motion for one minute.

Origen de la palabra

Old English

Significado original: inactive, sluggish

Contexto cultural

Calling a person 'slow' can be offensive; it is better to use 'slow to understand'.

Used often to describe traffic or internet speeds.

'Slow Ride' by Foghat The Tortoise and the Hare

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

traffic

  • slow traffic
  • traffic is slow
  • slow down

work

  • slow progress
  • slow start
  • slow business

technology

  • slow connection
  • slow loading
  • slow response

daily life

  • slow pace
  • take it slow
  • slow walk

Inicios de conversación

"Do you prefer a fast or slow life?"

"What is the slowest thing you have seen?"

"Are you slow to wake up in the morning?"

"What do you do when internet is slow?"

"Do you like slow-paced movies?"

Temas para diario

Describe a slow day.

Write about a time you had to slow down.

How do you feel when things are slow?

Is being slow ever a good thing?

Preguntas frecuentes

8 preguntas
It can be in casual speech, but 'slowly' is the standard adverb.
Use 'slower' and 'slowest'.
Yes, but be careful not to sound rude.
Fast.
Yes, 'to slow down'.
No, it rhymes with go.
Extremely common.
Yes, 'a slow movie' is a boring one.

Ponte a prueba

fill blank A1

The turtle is very ___.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta: slow

Turtles are known for being slow.

multiple choice A2

Which is the opposite of slow?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta: fast

Fast is the direct opposite.

true false B1

Slowly is an adjective.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Falso

Slowly is an adverb.

match pairs B1

Word

Significado

¡Todo emparejado!

Matches phrases to meanings.

sentence order B2

Toca las palabras de abajo para formar la oración
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:

The traffic is very slow.

Puntuación: /5

Contenido relacionado

Más palabras de Descriptions

low

A1

Not high or tall in height, often positioned close to the ground or a base level. It can also describe a small amount of something, a quiet sound, or a sad mood.

narrow

A1

Narrow describes something that has a very small distance from one side to the other. It is the opposite of wide and is often used to describe roads, paths, or spaces.

thick

A1

Describes something that has a large distance between its two opposite sides or surfaces. It can also describe liquids that are dense and do not flow easily, or things that grow closely together like hair or forest trees.

gray

A1

A neutral color that is a mixture of black and white, often seen in clouds, ash, or lead. It is used to describe objects that lack bright color or to represent a sense of seriousness and neutrality.

purple

A1

Purple is a color that is made by mixing red and blue together. It is a common color found in nature, such as in certain flowers and fruits like grapes.

tiny

A1

Describes something that is very small in size, amount, or degree. It is more emphatic than the word 'small' and is often used to highlight how little something is.

perfect

A1

En gramática, se refiere a tiempos verbales de acciones terminadas. También se usa en la frase 'la práctica hace al maestro' para hablar de un estado sin errores.

massive

A1

Something that is massive is very, very large and heavy. It can also describe something that is much bigger or more powerful than usual.

rough

A1

Algo que no es liso, sino que tiene bultos o asperezas. También puede ser difícil.

soft

A1

Describes something that is easy to press, fold, or shape and is not hard or firm. It can also describe sounds that are quiet or light that is gentle and not too bright.

¿Te ha servido?
¡No hay comentarios todavía. Sé el primero en compartir tus ideas!