A1 Expression Informal

¡Qué lento!

How slow!

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use '¡Qué lento!' to express surprise or annoyance when someone or something is moving or performing at a snail's pace.

  • Means: How slow! / That is so slow!
  • Used in: Traffic, waiting for a slow computer, or watching a sluggish person.
  • Don't confuse: Do not use 'lento' for 'late' (tarde).
🐢 + 😠 = ¡Qué lento!

Explanation at your level:

This is a simple way to say something is slow. You use 'Qué' plus the word 'lento'. It is very easy to use with friends.
This phrase is an exclamation used to highlight the lack of speed in a situation. It is a common way to express minor frustration when waiting for something or someone.
As an exclamatory structure, '¡Qué lento!' allows speakers to emphasize their perception of time. It is highly versatile and can be adjusted for gender and number, making it a useful tool for descriptive communication in daily life.
The phrase functions as an intensifier. By using the exclamatory 'Qué', the speaker transforms a simple adjective into a subjective commentary on the environment, reflecting a state of impatience or critical observation regarding the velocity of an action.
From a linguistic perspective, this is an exclamatory construction that utilizes the adjective as the head of the predicate. It serves as a pragmatic marker of the speaker's internal state, specifically their temporal dissatisfaction, and demonstrates the flexibility of Spanish exclamations.
This expression exemplifies the cognitive mapping of time as a spatial dimension in Spanish. By employing the exclamatory 'Qué', the speaker foregrounds the attribute of 'slowness', effectively shifting the focus from the subject to the perceived temporal deficiency of the event, which is a hallmark of expressive, near-native discourse.

Significado

Used to express surprise or comment on the slowness of something.

🌍

Contexto cultural

People might use this to complain about 'la burocracia' (bureaucracy). Often used with a humorous tone when someone is being 'flojo' (lazy).

💡

Agreement

Remember to change 'lento' to 'lenta' if the noun is feminine.

Significado

Used to express surprise or comment on the slowness of something.

💡

Agreement

Remember to change 'lento' to 'lenta' if the noun is feminine.

Teste-se

Choose the correct form.

The turtle is slow. ¡Qué ______!

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: lento

Turtle (tortuga) is feminine, but if referring to the animal generally, 'lento' is standard.

🎉 Pontuação: /1

Perguntas frequentes

1 perguntas

Yes, but be careful not to sound insulting.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

Ir despacio

similar

To go slowly

Onde usar

⌚

Waiting for a friend

Friend: ¡Qué lento caminas!

informal
💻

Tech issues

User: ¡Qué lento carga esto!

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Lento' (slow) turtle named 'Lenny'.

Visual Association

Imagine a turtle wearing a watch that is moving backwards because it is so slow.

Rhyme

Si el camino es lento, me pongo contento... ¡no, es broma, es un tormento!

Story

I was at the bank. The line was huge. I looked at the clock. I sighed and said, '¡Qué lento!'. The person next to me laughed and agreed.

Word Web

lentodespaciovelocidadrápidotiempoesperar

Desafio

Say '¡Qué lento!' every time you encounter a slow loading screen today.

In Other Languages

French high

Que c'est lent!

French requires the dummy pronoun 'c'est'.

German moderate

Wie langsam!

The word order and intensifier particle differ.

Japanese low

遅い！ (Osoi!)

No exclamatory particle like 'Qué' is used.

Arabic moderate

ما أبطأه! (Ma abta'ahu!)

Grammatical structure is much more complex.

Spanish high

¡Qué lento!

None, this is the base.

Easily Confused

¡Qué lento! vs ¡Qué tarde!

Learners confuse 'slow' with 'late'.

Lento = speed, Tarde = time of day.

Perguntas frequentes (1)

Yes, but be careful not to sound insulting.

Foi útil?

Comentários (0)

Faça Login para Comentar
Nenhum comentário ainda. Seja o primeiro a compartilhar suas ideias!