tard vs en retard

If you’re learning French, you’ve probably come across both tard and en retard in contexts related to time. At first glance, they seem similar—after all, both suggest some kind of lateness—but they are not interchangeable.


The Key Difference

  • Tard is an adverb meaning late (as in at a late hour).
  • En retard is a fixed expression meaning late (as in not on time or delayed).

In short:

  • Tard refers to lateness in general or in time.
  • En retard refers to being late compared to a schedule or expectation.

Examples of tard

Use tard to describe actions that happen late in the day or at a late point in time:

  • Je me suis couché tard.
    I went to bed late.
  • Il est rentré tard du travail.
    He came home late from work.
  • Tu manges toujours tard le soir.
    You always eat late in the evening.
  • Elle est née très tard dans l’année.
    She was born very late in the year.

Tard can also be modified with adverbs like trop (too), très (very), or plus (later):

  • Tu es arrivé trop tard.
    You arrived too late.
  • On mangera plus tard.
    We’ll eat later.
  • Il est déjà très tard.
    It’s already very late.

Examples of en retard

Use en retard when someone or something is not on time or is delayed:

  • Je suis en retard pour mon rendez-vous.
    I’m late for my appointment.
  • Le train est en retard de vingt minutes.
    The train is 20 minutes late.
  • Tu es encore en retard !
    You’re late again!
  • Désolé, je suis en retard à cause des embouteillages.
    Sorry, I’m late because of traffic.
  • Elle a rendu son devoir en retard.
    She submitted her assignment late.

In all of these cases, en retard is used relative to a fixed time or schedule.


Common Mistake: Je suis tard

Learners often try to say Je suis tard to mean “I am late.” This is incorrect in French.

The correct expression is:
Je suis en retard.

Remember, tard is used to describe when something happens (time), not whether it’s punctual.


Etymology: Where Do These Expressions Come From?

Tard

The word tard comes from Latin tarde, meaning slowly or late. It’s related to the adjective tardus (slow, sluggish), which also gave rise to the English word tardy. It’s been in use in French since at least the 12th century.

En retard

This expression is made of the preposition en (in) and the noun retard (delay).

  • Retard comes from Latin retardare, which means to slow down or delay, from re- (again, back) + tardus (slow).
  • So en retard literally means in a state of delay.

Summary Table

ExpressionPart of SpeechMeaningUsed WithExample
tardAdverbLate (in time)Actions or points in timeJe me suis levé tard.
en retardFixed phraseLate (not on time)People, transport, deadlinesElle est en retard pour le travail.

Quick Quiz

Which word fits best?

  1. Il est ___ pour son vol.
  2. Je travaille souvent très ___.
  3. Le professeur était ___ à son propre cours.
  4. On mangera plus ___ ce soir.
  5. Tu rends toujours tes devoirs ___ !

Answers:

  1. en retard
  2. tard
  3. en retard
  4. tard
  5. en retard

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • Well, better, best

    Understanding “Well,” “Better,” and “Best” in French Adverbs like “well,” “better,” and “best” are essential for describing actions and making comparisons in French. But what exactly is an adverb? Simply put, an adverb is a word that describes a verb. It answers the questions how, when, where, or to what extent. Adjectives describes nouns, while…

  • hypothetical situations

    In French, when expressing hypothetical situations about the present or future, we use the imperfect tense (imparfait) in the “si” clause and the present conditional (conditionnel présent) in the result clause. This structure is used when the condition is contrary to reality or unlikely in the present. The imperfect tense sets up the hypothetical situation,…

  • coûte que coûte

    The French phrase coûte que coûte literally means “cost what it may” or “whatever it costs.” It expresses determination to achieve something regardless of the cost, difficulty, or risk involved. It is one of the most common French idioms for expressing absolute resolve. It comes from the verb coûter (to cost) and the conjunction que…

  • hypothetical situations in the past

    Regrets & recriminations In French, when expressing regrets (about what could have been) or recriminations (blaming someone for what they should have done), we use the plus-que-parfait in the “si” clause and the past conditional (conditionnel passé) in the result clause. Structure: This construction is used to describe hypothetical situations in the past that did…

  • il faut VS devoir

    What is the difference between il faut (it is necessary) and devoir (to have to, must)? The answer is that il faut expresses an impersonal, general, or external necessity, while devoir expresses a personal, specific, or internal obligation. They are not simply interchangeable. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the differences: 1. The Nature of the…

  • être censé

    Understanding the French Verb “Censer” The verb “censer” is a bit unusual in French because it’s primarily used in its passive form “être censé(e)” which translates to “to be supposed to.” Note: There is no need to use “de” or “à” with “être censé.” “To be supposed to do” is simply “être censé faire.” “Etre…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *