What does tan in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word tan in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use tan in Spanish.

The word tan in Spanish means so, as … as, so, with little effort, by just, with just, with a mere, with just, with a mere, at only, at just, so that, be that desperate, be that desperate to do, as fresh as a daisy, as cool as a cucumber, nothing out of the ordinary, not even, go on as if nothing has happened, if only, so much so that, long-awaited, as easy as, hardly any, very little, very few, as soon as, at least, just, only, some have so much while others have so little. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word tan

so

adverbio (apócope de tanto) (to such a degree)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Estaba tan nervioso que no lograba articular palabra alguna.
He was so nervous that he couldn't say a word.

as … as

adverbio (uso comparativo) (comparing two things)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Está tan sordo como una tapia.
He is as deaf as a post.

so

adverbio (expresa consecuencia) (expressing consequence)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Estaba tan perdido en sus pensamientos que no escuchó las pisadas que se acercaban.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he did not hear the approaching footsteps.

with little effort

locución conjuntiva (enfático (explica una consecuencia)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
La bailarina hizo la rutina con tan pocas ganas que su instructor decidió suspender la lección.
Since the dancer did her routine with little effort, her instructor decided to suspend the class.

by just, with just, with a mere

expresión (tan solo basta)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Con tan solo escucharlo unos minutos, uno se da cuenta de lo que piensa.
You can figure out what he thinks by just listening to him for a few minutes.

with just, with a mere

expresión (basta con)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Con tan solo una llamada, este poderoso empresario puede solucionar cualquier problema.
With just one call this powerful businessman can solve any problem.

at only, at just

expresión (con apenas)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Con tan solo 20 años, Daniel ya dirige un negocio exitoso.
At just 20 years of age Daniel is already running a successful business.

so that

expresión (denota exageración)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Es un relato oscuro pero de tan absurdo que resulta divertido.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. My sister is so tall that she has to order custom clothes.

be that desperate

(haber llegado a tal extremo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Tengo hambre, pero esa carne huele asqueroso y no pienso comérmela. ¡No estoy tan desesperado!

be that desperate to do

(haber llegado a tal extremo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Necesito dinero, pero no estoy tan desesperada como para robar. Si estabas tan desesperado como para vender el auto, debiste pedirme dinero prestado.
I need money, but I'm not so desperate to steal.

as fresh as a daisy

locución adjetiva (coloquial (descansado, con energía)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Después de la siesta me levanté fresco como una lechuga.

as cool as a cucumber

locución adjetiva (coloquial (campante, despreocupado)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Yo no estoy preocupado; estoy fresco como una lechuga.

nothing out of the ordinary

locución adverbial (AmL, coloquial (expresa moderación)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
No es ni un tonto ni un genio, ni muy muy ni tan tan.

not even

locución adverbial (negación enfática)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")
No te quiere ni tan siquiera un poco.

go on as if nothing has happened

locución verbal (ES: informal (no sentirse afectado)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
No soporto a Ernesto: nos miente todos los días y se queda tan a gusto.
I can't stand Ernesto: he lies to us every day and goes on as if nothing has happened.

if only

locución conjuntiva (si al menos)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Si tan sólo fueras un poco más amable, tendrías más amigos.
If only you were a little more friendly, you would have more friends.

so much so that

locución conjuntiva (para argumentar)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Juan es muy inteligente, tan es así que lo apoyaré en todo lo que proponga.
Juan is very intelligent, so much so that I will support him in anything he proposes.

long-awaited

locución adverbial (muy deseado)

La madre recibió el tan esperado anuncio de que iba a ser abuela.
The mother received the long-awaited news that she was going to be a grandmother.

as easy as

locución adverbial (para comparar)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
¿Quién dice que leer es tan fácil como escribir?
Who says that reading is as easy as writing?

hardly any, very little, very few

expresión (muy escaso)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Tenemos tan poco tiempo para hacer lo que necesitamos.
We've got very little (or: hardly any) time to get everything done.

as soon as

locución conjuntiva (en el momento que)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")
Tan pronto como el avión aterrizó, los pasajeros, impacientes, se levantaron de sus asientos.
As soon as the plane landed, the impatient passengers got up out of their seats.

at least

locución adverbial (por lo menos)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Tan siquiera trata de aprender de tus errores.

just, only

locución adverbial (únicamente)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Mi tío es un tacaño: tan solo me dio diez pesos en mi cumpleaños.
My uncle is cheap. He only (or: just) gave me ten pesos for my birthday.

some have so much while others have so little

expresión (reparto injusto)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Let's learn Spanish

So now that you know more about the meaning of tan in Spanish, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in Spanish.

Do you know about Spanish

Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.