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"Al rato" is a phrase which is often translated as "shortly after", and "en un rato" is a phrase which is often translated as "in a while". Learn more about the difference between "al rato" and "en un rato" below.
al rato(
ahl
rrah
-
toh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
1. (general)
b. shortly afterwards
Al rato Irene volvió a tropezarse con la misma persona en otra parte de la tienda.Shortly afterwards Irene bumped into the same person on a different part of the store.
c. a while later
Al rato, Luis vino hacia mí y se disculpó.Luis came to me and apologized a while later.
d. a short while later
El avión se escondió tras las nubes; al rato volvió a asomar.The plane hid behind the clouds; a short while later it came into view again.
f. soon after
Al rato de entrar en la sala de conciertos, empecé a notar mucho calor.Soon after I got into the concert hall, I began to feel really hot.
en un rato(
ehn
oon
rrah
-
toh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
1. (general)
a. in a while
Estoy retrasada, pero espero estar ahí en un rato.I'm running late, but I hope I'll be there in a while.
b. in a bit
¿Podrías levantar la mesa? - Claro, en un rato.Could you clear the table? - Sure, in a bit.
