Skip to content

retard

delay, lateness

noun ruh-TAR Common

Usage Note

Retard is used in the fixed phrase en retard (late, behind schedule) — the most common way to say someone is late in French. Avoir du retard means to be running late. Be careful: the English word 'retard' is a false friend here; the French word carries no offensive connotation.

Examples

"Le train a du retard ce matin."

Natural Translation

The train is late this morning.

Literal Translation

The train has some lateness this morning.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore French by topic