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"Ratito" is a noun which is often translated as "little while", and "a cada rato" is a phrase which is often translated as "every other minute". Learn more about the difference between "ratito" and "a cada rato" below.
el ratito(
rrah
-
tee
-
toh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
b. little bit
Espérame. Solo me llevará un ratito más.Wait for me. It'll take me just a little bit longer.
a cada rato(
ah
kah
-
dah
rrah
-
toh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
1. (general)
a. every other minute
Luisa se iba a cada rato a la ventana para ver si venía el cartero.Luisa would go to the window every other minute to see whether the postman was coming.
b. over and over
Te agradecería que no me repitieras a cada rato cuánta razón tenías y cuán equivocada estaba yo.I'd be most grateful if you didn't keep repeating over and over how right you were and how wrong I was.
c. constantly
Deja de decirme lo que tengo que hacer a cada rato.Stop constantly telling me what I'm to do.
d. all the time
Elvira sacaba el espejo del bolso a cada rato para ver si se le había corrido el rímel.Elvira was all the time taking the mirror out of her bag to see if her mascara had smudged.
e. the whole time
Estaba tan cansada que en el cine me quedaba dormida a cada rato.I was so tired I was falling asleep at the movies the whole time.
