más vale tarde que nunca
Lemma Details
Translation: better late than never
Part of Speech: proverb
Etymology: This Spanish proverb is a direct equivalent of the English 'better late than never'. It literally translates as 'more worth late than never', with 'más vale' meaning 'it is better' or 'it is worth more', 'tarde' meaning 'late', and 'nunca' meaning 'never'. This expression exists in many languages and has its origins in Latin 'potius sero quam numquam', attributed to Roman historian Titus Livius (Livy).
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Finalmente terminé mi tesis después de diez años. Más vale tarde que nunca, ¿no?
I finally finished my thesis after ten years. Better late than never, right?
Sé que debería haber llamado antes, pero más vale tarde que nunca.
I know I should have called earlier, but better late than never.
Después de veinte años, decidió buscar a su padre biológico. Más vale tarde que nunca.
After twenty years, she decided to look for her biological father. Better late than never.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'más vale' as 'more valuable' - it's more valuable to do something late than never do it at all.
- Remember that 'tarde' (late) is better than 'nunca' (never) - the order of the words follows the logic of the saying.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This proverb is widely used across Spanish-speaking cultures to express the idea that doing something late is preferable to not doing it at all. It's often used to acknowledge delayed actions or responses in both personal and professional contexts, and carries a tone of optimism and encouragement rather than criticism for the delay.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both are common Spanish proverbs starting with 'más vale', they express different concepts. 'Más vale tarde que nunca' refers to the value of doing something even if delayed, while 'más vale prevenir que curar' means 'prevention is better than cure'.
Notes: Both proverbs begin with 'más vale' (it's better/more valuable) but address different life situations.
Mnemonic: 'Tarde' (late) relates to timing, while 'prevenir' (prevent) relates to caution and preparation.