Spanish Phrase
No quiero llegar tarde.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘I don’t want to be late’ or ‘I don’t want to arrive late.’ It expresses a personal intention to avoid tardiness.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re talking about appointments, classes, meetings, or any event where being on time matters. It’s common in both casual conversation and more formal settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Noquierollegartarde.
Negation (No)
Place 'no' directly before the verb it negates; here it negates the verb 'quiero'.
Verbo querer (quiero)
'Querer' means 'to want'; 'quiero' is the first-person singular present indicative.
Infinitivo después de querer (llegar)
When a verb of desire (querer, gustar, deber) is used, it is followed by an infinitive.
Adverbio de tiempo (tarde)
'Tarde' functions as an adverb meaning 'late' and follows the infinitive.
🗨In Conversation
¿A qué hora empieza la reunión?
What time does the meeting start?
No quiero llegar tarde.
I don’t want to be late.
✕Common Mistakes
No quiero ser tarde.
‘Ser’ describes inherent qualities, not the act of arriving; use ‘llegar’ for ‘to arrive.’
Quiero no llegar tarde.
Negation should precede the conjugated verb, not the infinitive.
No quiero llegar tardo.
‘Tardo’ is a verb form meaning ‘I take time’; the adverb ‘tarde’ is needed.
↔Alternatives
No deseo llegar tarde.
I don’t wish to be late.
Prefiero no llegar tarde.
I’d rather not be late.
Quiero llegar a tiempo.
I want to arrive on time.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, a few minutes of ‘tarde’ is socially acceptable, especially in informal gatherings. However, in professional contexts punctuality is valued, so saying ‘No quiero llegar tarde’ shows responsibility and respect for others’ time.