rather [ˈrɑːðəʳ]
adverb
1 (preference)
we decided to camp, rather than stay at a hotel decidimos acampar, en lugar de quedarnos en un hotel; I'll stay rather than go alone prefiero quedarme a ir solo; I'd rather have this one than that prefiero este a aquel; "would you like a sweet?" — "I'd rather have an apple" —¿quieres un caramelo? —preferiría una manzana
would you rather stay here? ¿prefieres quedarte?; I'd rather stay in tonight preferiría no salir esta noche; I'd rather he didn't come to the party preferiría que no viniera a la fiesta
anything rather than that! ¡cualquier cosa menos eso!
play anything rather than that toca cualquier cosa que no sea eso
I'd rather not prefiero no hacerlo
I'd rather not say prefiero no decirlo
"I'm going to have it out with the boss" — "rather you than me!" —voy a planteárselo al jefe —¡allá tú!
2 (somewhat) algo; un poco
he looks rather like his mother se parece un poco a su madre
I feel rather more happy today hoy me siento algo más contento
I rather suspected as much me lo sospechaba
I rather think he won't come me inclino a creer que no vendrá
that is rather too dear es algo caro (para mí etc)
3 (quite) bastante
it's a rather difficult task it's rather a difficult task es una tarea bastante difícil
we were rather tired estábamos bastante cansados; I was rather disappointed quedé bastante decepcionado; he did rather well in the exam le fue bastante bien en el examen; "isn't she pretty?" — "yes, she is rather" —¿es guapa, eh? —sí, bastante; "are you keen to go?" — "yes, I am rather" —¿tienes ganas de ir? —sí que quiero
there's rather a lot hay bastante
£20! that's rather a lot! ¡20 libras! ¡es bastante caro!; I've got rather a lot of homework to do tengo muchos deberes que hacer
it's rather a pity es una pena or lástima