vs 

QUICK ANSWER
"Behind" is a preposition which is often translated as "detrás de", and "slow" is an adjective which is often translated as "lento". Learn more about the difference between "behind" and "slow" below.
behind(
bi
-
haynd
)
A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).
preposition
a. detrás de
The kids hid behind the curtains to surprise the birthday girl.Los niños se escondieron detrás de las cortinas para sorprender a la cumpleañera.
b. atrás de
Please stay behind your mother.Por favor quédate atrás de tu mamá.
c. tras
There was a little mouse behind the wardrobe, and when we moved it, it ran away.Había un ratoncito tras el armario y, cuando lo movimos, salió corriendo.
a. detrás de
The secretary was behind the scam.La secretaria estaba detrás del timo.
b. tras
It seems two high-ranking officers are behind the coup.Al parecer dos altos mandos están tras el golpe de estado.
a. detrás de
Alexa is slightly behind Tracy in the overall season scores.Alexa está ligeramente detrás de Tracy en la puntuación global de la temporada.
b. atrás de
Gonzalez was behind Uribe in the polls, but he's catching up.González iba atrás de Uribe en las encuestas, pero lo está alcanzando.
c. a la zaga
Our team is behind all the rest this season.Nuestro equipo está a la zaga de los demás esta temporada.
d. tras
We're not behind them in the league table, we're ahead of them.Nosotros no vamos tras ellos en la clasificación de la liga, estamos por delante de ellos.
a. por detrás de
Seattle is three hours behind New York.Seattle está tres horas por detrás de Nueva York.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
I thought you were going to be behind my idea of hiring Carlos on an interim basis.Pensé que iban a respaldar mi idea de contratar a Carlos como empleado interino.
Why aren't you behind me on this proposal?¿Por qué no me apoyas con esta propuesta?
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Anne has 25 years of teaching behind her.Anne tiene 25 años dando clases en su haber.
We have a lot of experience behind us.Tenemos mucha experiencia en nuestro haber.
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
adverb
a. atrás
The bus driver heard a noise and looked behind.El chofer oyó un ruido y miró atrás.
b. detrás
His dog was running along behind.Su perro venía corriendo detrás.
c. de cerca
Cecilia was nervous because the same black van had been following close behind for ten minutes.Cecilia estaba nerviosa porque la misma camioneta negra la había estado siguiendo de cerca por diez minutos.
a. atrasado
The renters are behind with their payments.Los inquilinos van atrasados en los pagos.
b. retrasado
The train is behind; let's go get something to eat.El tren viene retrasado; vamos a por algo de comer.
a. más atrás
Remember that Mexico City is 2 hours behind.Acuérdate que la Ciudad de México va dos horas más atrás.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. el trasero
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
She slapped him on the behind.Le dio una palmada en el trasero.
b. la cola
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(F)
Nice behind!¡Linda cola!
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.
slow(
slo
)
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
adjective
a. lento
We kept a slow pace so we could enjoy the surroundings.Íbamos a paso lento para disfrutar de los alrededores.
b. despacio (adverb)
The traffic is slow on route 18.El tráfico va despacio en la ruta 18.
a. atrasado (watch or clock)
The clock is two minutes slow.El reloj está atrasado dos minutos.
a. torpe
Yanina's unbearably slow when she first wakes up.Yanina es insoportablemente torpe al despertarse.
b. lento
He's a bit slow. Be patient.Es un poco lento. Tenle paciencia.
c. corto
She'll never figure it out, because she's just too slow.Nunca lo entenderá porque es simplemente demasiado corta.
a. lento
That movie was so slow it put me to sleep.Esa película era tan lenta que me durmió.
a. lento
Sauté the onions over a slow flame.Sofría la cebolla a fuego lento.
a. flojo
Our business is usually slow in December, so we give the employees the whole month off.Nuestro negocio generalmente está flojo en diciembre, así que les damos el mes entero libre a los empleados.
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
adverb
a. despacio
The bus was going slower and slower.El autobús iba cada vez más despacio.
b. lentamente
Magda has been walking slow since her foot surgery.Magda ha estado caminando lentamente desde la cirugía del pie.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. reducir la velocidad
The ship slowed near the harbor.El barco redujo la velocidad cerca del puerto.
b. aflojar el paso
The couple slowed to smell the flowers in the park.La pareja aflojó el paso para oler las flores del parque.
c. disminuir la velocidad
The truck slowed and stopped at the lights.El camión disminuyó la velocidad y paró en el semáforo.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. entorpecer
She slowed the negotiations by being unreasonable.Entorpeció las negociaciones con su actitud tan poco razonable.
b. retrasar
Soluble fiber slows the absorption of glucose.La fibra soluble retrasa la absorción de la glucosa.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.