How do we say “a little while” in Spanish?

If you’ve ever wondered how to say “a little while” in Spanish, here’s a tiny word that will instantly make your Spanish sound more natural:

rato ✨

Rato means a little while, a bit of time, or for some time depending on the context.

Here are some examples you can start using today:

• Vuelvo en un rato.I’ll be back in a little while.

• ¿Hablamos en un rato?Shall we talk in a little while?

• Hace rato que no te veo.I haven’t seen you in a while.

• Espérame un ratito.Wait for me just a little bit.

And yes, you’ll also hear ratito (a cute, even smaller “little while”), which is extremely common and very friendly (although this version is more commonly used in Latin America than in Spain).

Next time you want to express “just give me a moment” or “I’ll be back soon,” drop a rato or ratito into the conversation.

You’ll sound instantly more natural. 😉