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contratiempo

setback

noun kon-trah-TYEM-poh Rare

Also means

hitch

Usage Note

Contratiempo refers to an unexpected obstacle or delay that disrupts plans. It is milder than desastre (disaster) and more specific than problema. The plural is regular: contratiempos. A common phrase is sin contratiempos (without a hitch).

Examples

"El viaje transcurrió sin ningún contratiempo."

Natural Translation

The trip went by without any setback.

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