Lentamente vs. Despacio?
When you're talking about someone doing something "slowly", do you use "lentamente" or "despacio"?
What is the difference between these two words?
If you want to tell someone to "slow down" when speaking so that you can understand him/her more easily, which word do you use?
Gracias!
4 Answers
Despacio may also be used for intensity. In this case is not interchangeable. For example in this sentence: "Golpéalo despacio, o se puede romper", it would not make to much sense to say "golpéalo lentamente".
They're synonyms and can generally be used interchangeably. I usually use despacio when asking someone to speak more slowly, probably because that's what I learned when I first started.
Welcome to the forum.
Even though both words are adverbs, Despacio can have the nuance of imperative in the proper context.
Slow down! .... ¡Despacio! (Road signs all say "Despacio" as well).
Demanding that someone do something slowly by using "lentamente" would sound ridiculous.
"Ella corre muy despacio / lentamente" (here both work).
great! Thank you all so much for the explanations 
