What does "al rato" mean?

In a short time; shortly; a little later.

How is "al rato" used in a sentence?

No sabía que una mujer podía hacerle esto a un hombre: Querer estrangularla y, al rato, querer casarse con ella.

al rato — Meaning, Examples & Usage (Spanish)

Meanings:

1.
Latin AmericaSpaincolloquialneutral
- In a short time; shortly; a little later.
- At a subsequent moment during the near future.
Examples
Beta
- Al rato, Juan llegó con las entradas para el concierto que habíamos esperado.
  Shortly after, Juan arrived with the tickets for the concert we had been waiting for.
- Voy a terminar este informe al rato y luego podemos revisar juntos los detalles.
  I will finish this report shortly and then we can review the details together.
- ¿Puedes llamarme al rato? Estoy ocupado en este momento pero después estaré libre.
  Can you call me in a little while? I’m busy right now but will be free afterward.
- Al rato de comenzar la reunión, recibimos una llamada urgente que cambió el plan.
  A little while after starting the meeting, we received an urgent call that changed the plan.
2.
Latin AmericaSpaincolloquialnarrative
- After a while; later on (used to relate the next event in a sequence).
- Eventually; some time after an earlier action or emotion.
Examples
Beta
- Primero estuvo molesta, pero al rato se le pasó y volvió a sonreír.
  At first she was upset, but after a while it passed and she smiled again.
- Al rato de escuchar la noticia, todos se tranquilizaron y siguieron con su trabajo.
  After a while of hearing the news, everyone calmed down and continued with their work.
- El problema parecía grave, pero al rato se resolvió sin mayores complicaciones.
  The problem seemed serious, but later on it was solved without major complications.

Examples:

ES: No sabía que una mujer podía hacerle esto a un hombre: Querer estrangularla y, al rato, querer casarse con ella.
EN: I didn't know a woman could do this to a man... make him itch to strangle her one minute... and marry her the next.
ES: En realidad no fue gran cosa pero al rato apoyó su cabeza en mi hombro y miró a los que esperaban su turno, y dijo:
EN: Oh, I guess it really wasn't much but after a while he put his head back on my shoulder and looked at all the men waiting their turns and said:
ES: Bueno, empecé a nadar en plena noche la cogí del brazo, al rato estaba cansado oí el silbato de un remolcador cerca de mí se me echó encima una barcaza me sujeté a la borda y me dejé llevar.
EN: Good, I began to swim in full night I caught it of the arm, to the while it was tired I heard the whistle of a tug near me I was tossed above a barge I held myself to the overboard and I allowed myself to take.
ES: Lo veré al rato.
EN: I'll see you in a while.
ES: ni me sorprendería que al rato me casara
EN: nor would it surprise me that I soon married
ES: ¿Qué significa: "Nos vemos al rato"?
EN: Qu'est-Ce Que c'est? Dig you later?
ES: Una chica se viste de seda y, al rato... un jovencito como tú está seguro de saber lo que hace.
EN: A girl puts on a piece of silk, and the next thing that happens, a young fellow like you is sure he knows exactly what he's doing.
ES: Tengo miedo de sentarme y, al rato, recostarme.
EN: I'm just afraid if I sit down, the next thing, I'll lie down.
ES: Hacía alarde de mis conocimientos marinos, y al rato hablábamos de amor y de sus síntomas.
EN: One minute I was experting on the care and feeding of porpoises and the next thing I knew, we were talking about love. its symptoms.
ES: ¡Pero al rato se va!
EN: But after a while he goes!
ES: El invitado es como el pez, que al rato huele mal.
EN: A guest is like the fish, that smells bad after a while.
ES: Y al rato contestó. ¿Sabes qué?
EN: After a while, he answered, You know what he said?
ES: Te espero al rato.
EN: - Oh, I will. - Goodbye.
ES: Si, al rato te digo.
EN: Yeah, i'll let you know later.
ES: No se te vaya a olvidar, y ya me voy porque al rato empieza la carrera.
EN: Don't You forget, but I have to hurry off before the race starts.
ES: Tócala, y al rato la rompes.
EN: Smash it, and soon it'll break.
ES: - Vuelvo al rato, nana.
EN: - I'll be back in a moment.
ES: Nos vemos al rato.
EN: See you later.
EN: Dig you later, boy.
ES: Tú dices "carcajada" y yo digo "risas". Tú dices "al rato" y yo digo "después".
EN: ♪ You say laughter and I say laughter, you say after and I say after ♪
ES: Carcajada, risas, al rato, después.
EN: ♪ Laughter, laughter, after, after.

al rato — meaning & examples

Language: es

Meanings:

1.

Examples

2.

Examples

Examples:

al rato — meaning & examples

Language: es

Meanings:

1.

Examples

2.

Examples

Examples:

Related Idioms