spät

Spät is a German word meaning late, referring to a time after the usual or expected moment. It is used as an adverb and as part of various compounds. Spät can describe lateness in daily schedules, in historical periods, or in events, and it stands in contrast to früh (early).

Grammatical usage: As an adverb, spät is invariable: Es ist schon spät. The comparative form is später, and the superlative is am spätesten. The phrase zu spät means too late, often signaling a missed opportunity: Wir sind zu spät gekommen. In time-related compounds, it forms words such as Spätsommer (late summer), Spätlese (late harvest wine), and Spätzünder (slang for a late bloomer). The term Spätkauf or Späti refers to a late-night shop. The adjective can also modify a noun, e.g., eine späte Entscheidung (a late decision).

Etymology and cognates: Spät originates from the Germanic language family; cognates include English late and Dutch laat, reflecting a common sense of lateness. It is attested in historical forms such as Old High German spēt, underscoring its long-standing meaning related to being late.

Usage notes: In everyday German, spät carries a neutral to slightly pragmatic tone, describing timing without moral judgment. It appears in both spoken and written language and participates in a range of standard compounds and idioms, reinforcing its role as a core temporal term.