In this workshop you will practise two friendly ways to tell someone there is no need to hurry. You will learn an informal phrase for friends and close colleagues, and a formal phrase for customers or people you address politely. You will hear short exchanges, choose the right reply, and then say both roles yourself. The goal is simple: when someone apologises for being slow or late, you can answer calmly and kindly in Spanish.
Informal reassurance with a friend
When a friend or close colleague says they are running late, you can answer with a short, warm phrase. The line «No hay prisa.» means "There's no rush." It is a gentle way to say that waiting is fine. You can add the informal line «Tómate tu tiempo.», which means "Take your time." Together they sound relaxed and friendly. In the recorded exchange, one speaker says «Perdón, voy a llegar como quince minutos tarde.», which means "Sorry, I'm going to arrive about fifteen minutes late." The other speaker answers with «No hay prisa, tómate tu tiempo. Te espero aquí.», which means "There's no rush, take your time. I'll wait here." Notice that the reply uses the informal form because the two people know each other well. When you speak, keep your voice calm and slow. A small smile also helps. You are not giving permission for something serious; you are simply saying that the other person does not need to worry about being quick.
Polite reassurance with a customer or stranger
In a shop, clinic, or office, you may need a more polite form. The line «Tómese su tiempo.» means "Take your time" and is used with customers, older people, or anyone you address as usted. If the person apologises, you can also use the two-part line «No se preocupe, no hay prisa.», which means "Don't worry, there's no rush." In the recorded exchange, one speaker says «Disculpe, necesito revisar bien estas opciones.», which means "Excuse me, I need to look over these options carefully." The other speaker answers with «Claro, no se preocupe. Tómese su tiempo.», which means "Of course, don't worry. Take your time." This reply is polite and professional. It tells the customer that there is no pressure. When you practise, keep the same calm tone. The formal form is not cold; it is simply respectful. Use it when you are not sure whether the informal form is appropriate.
Choosing between informal and formal
The main choice is between tómate tu tiempo and tómese su tiempo. The first one, «Tómate tu tiempo.», is for one person you know well. The second one, «Tómese su tiempo.», is for a customer, a guest, or someone you address politely. Both mean "Take your time," but they fit different situations. If you are talking to a friend who is late, use the informal form. If you are helping a customer who is reading a menu or checking a form, use the formal form. The phrase «No hay prisa.» works in both situations because it simply means "There's no rush." The longer line «No se preocupe, no hay prisa.» is also safe in formal situations. Practise saying each phrase slowly. Clear pronunciation matters more than speed. You can repeat after the recordings until the rhythm feels natural.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
No hay prisa.
There's no rush.
noh eye PREE-sah
Tómate tu tiempo.
Take your time. (informal)
TOH-mah-teh too TYEM-poh
Tómese su tiempo.
Take your time. (formal)
TOH-meh-seh soo TYEM-poh
No se preocupe, no hay prisa.
Don't worry, there's no rush.
noh seh preh-oh-KOO-peh, noh eye PREE-sah
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Perdón, voy a llegar como quince minutos tarde.
Sorry, I'm going to arrive about fifteen minutes late.No hay prisa, tómate tu tiempo. Te espero aquí.
There's no rush, take your time. I'll wait here.Disculpe, necesito revisar bien estas opciones.
Excuse me, I need to look over these options carefully.Claro, no se preocupe. Tómese su tiempo.
Of course, don't worry. Take your time.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: friend running late
Imagine a friend sends you a message saying they will be late. You want to answer in a friendly, informal way. Use the recorded lines to guide you.
Your task: First, listen to «Perdón, voy a llegar como quince minutos tarde.» and «No hay prisa, tómate tu tiempo. Te espero aquí.». Then say the role of the friend who is late, using the line from «Perdón, voy a llegar como quince minutos tarde.». After that, answer as the person who is waiting, using the line from «No hay prisa, tómate tu tiempo. Te espero aquí.». Repeat the exchange two times. Try to keep your voice calm and friendly.
Reply comprehension: choose the polite answer
Imagine you work in a shop. A customer says they need more time to look at the options. You want to answer politely.
Your task: Listen to «Disculpe, necesito revisar bien estas opciones.» and «Claro, no se preocupe. Tómese su tiempo.». Then read the customer's line from «Disculpe, necesito revisar bien estas opciones.» aloud. Choose the correct polite reply from the recording. Say it aloud. Check yourself: the correct reply is the one from «Claro, no se preocupe. Tómese su tiempo.», which uses the formal form. If you said the informal form, try again with the formal form.
Recall with correct roles: formal and informal
You will now practise both the informal and formal situations without reading the lines. Imagine two short scenes: one with a friend, one with a customer.
Your task: For the friend scene, say the late friend's line from «Perdón, voy a llegar como quince minutos tarde.», then answer with the informal reply from «No hay prisa, tómate tu tiempo. Te espero aquí.». For the customer scene, say the customer's line from «Disculpe, necesito revisar bien estas opciones.», then answer with the polite reply from «Claro, no se preocupe. Tómese su tiempo.». Do both scenes once. Then repeat, but this time say only the person who is waiting or helping. Check yourself: the informal reply uses tómate tu tiempo, and the polite reply uses tómese su tiempo.
Common questions
When should I use tómate tu tiempo and when should I use tómese su tiempo?
Use tómate tu tiempo with one person you know well, such as a friend or close colleague. Use tómese su tiempo with a customer, a guest, or anyone you address politely. Both mean "Take your time," but the formal form shows respect in shops, clinics, and offices.
Can I use no hay prisa in both informal and formal situations?
Yes. No hay prisa means "There's no rush" and works in both friendly and polite situations. If you want a longer polite answer, you can use no se preocupe, no hay prisa, which means "Don't worry, there's no rush." This is useful when a customer apologises for taking a long time.
Sources and further reading
- spanish: no rush take your timeChecked September 2026
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