Have you ever arrived late to a meeting or turned something in after a deadline, and someone kindly said: “Better late than never”?
If so, you’ll be glad to know there’s a simple and very common way to say this in Spanish:
👉 Más vale tarde que nunca
Let’s break it down and learn how to use it!
What does “más vale tarde que nunca” mean?
This phrase literally translates to:
“It’s worth more to be late than never.”
In other words, it’s better that something happens late than not at all. You can use it to excuse a delay or to thank someone who eventually followed through.
Real-life examples:
🟢 Showing up late to a party:
— ¡Llegaste! Pensamos que ya no venías.
— ¡Sí, perdón por la tardanza! Pero más vale tarde que nunca, ¿no?
(You arrived! We thought you weren’t coming. / Yes, sorry I’m late! But better late than never, right?)
🟢 Turning in something late:
— Aquí tienes el formulario. Sé que era para ayer.
— Está bien, más vale tarde que nunca.
(Here’s the form. I know it was due yesterday. / It’s okay, better late than never.)
🟢 Replying to an old message:
— Perdón por responder tan tarde.
— ¡No hay problema! Más vale tarde que nunca.
(Sorry for replying so late. / No problem! Better late than never.)
Are there any other similar expressions?
Yes, there’s a more poetic alternative you might hear occasionally:
🔸 “Nunca es tarde si la dicha es buena”
Literally: “It’s never too late if the outcome is good.”
It’s not as common in everyday conversation, but it does pop up in some regions or among older generations.
When should you use más vale tarde que nunca?
This phrase works well when:
✔️ You arrive late
✔️ You complete something after a deadline
✔️ Someone else finally does something they’ve been meaning to do
✔️ You want to be playful or kind about a delay
Whether you’re late to a meeting, a message, or even learning Spanish itself… just remember:
