delay
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delay
The state of arriving, taking place, or being completed later than planned or expected.
Wegen eines technischen Problems hat der Zug 30 Minuten Verspätung.
Because of a technical problem, the train is delayed by 30 minutes.
'Die Verspätung' (the delay) belongs to the word family of 'spät' (late). It is the nominalization of the verb 'sich verspäten' (to be late / to be delayed) and describes the state of being late.
Ich muss mich beeilen, um eine Verspätung zu vermeiden.
I have to hurry to avoid a delay.
The most common and important construction is 'Verspätung haben' (to be delayed / to have a delay). The subject is always the thing or person that is late, e.g. the train, the bus, or a person.
Entschuldigung, mein Bus hatte Verspätung.
Sorry, my bus was delayed.
Two important prepositions are 'mit' (with) and 'wegen' (because of). You say 'mit Verspätung ankommen' (to arrive late / with a delay), but 'wegen einer Verspätung' (because of a delay) to miss something.
Der ICE aus Berlin kam mit 20 Minuten Verspätung an.
The ICE from Berlin arrived with a 20-minute delay.
To state the duration of the delay, use the structure '[number] Minuten/Stunden Verspätung haben' (to be [number] minutes/hours late) or 'eine Verspätung von [number] Minuten/Stunden' (a delay of [number] minutes/hours).
Wir hatten auf dem Hinflug eine Verspätung von über einer Stunde.
We had a delay of over an hour on the outbound flight.
delay
Both words indicate that something happens later than expected. Verspätung particularly refers to arriving late or deviating from a scheduled time, while Verzögerung emphasizes that a process has been slowed down. Verspätung usually fits trains or appointments, while Verzögerung is more suitable for a process that has been held up.
Wegen einer Verspätung kommt der Zug erst um zehn Uhr an.
Because of a delay, the train will not arrive until ten o'clock.
Wegen einer Verzögerung bei der Reparatur wird die Maschine erst um zehn Uhr fertig.
Because of a delay in the repairs, the machine will not be ready until ten o'clock.
