Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| agilizar | /axiliˈθaɾ/ /axiliˈsaɾ/ |
| acelerar | /aθeleˈɾaɾ/ /aseleˈɾaɾ/ |
| apresurar | /apɾesuˈɾaɾ/ |
| expeditar | /eɡspediˈtaɾ/ |
The verb is used to describe accelerating the progress of a process or procedure. A very common way to use this is in the phrase agilizar los trámites, which means to expedite paperwork or bureaucratic procedures.
Which one should you use?
While several words mean to speed up, they are used in different contexts. Agilizar is the most common way to express expediting a process or procedure in professional or administrative settings, focusing on making a process smoother by removing obstacles. Acelerar is used when referring to physical speed, such as a car or the rate of a process. Apresurar often implies rushing or doing something with haste and potentially a lack of care. Expeditar is a technical term for specific legal or shipping contexts and is not a general synonym for speeding up a process.
How do you pronounce it?
/axiliˈθaɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers may be tempted to use expeditar because it looks like the English word 'expedite'. However, in most Spanish-speaking regions, expeditar is a technical term used in specific legal or shipping contexts and should not be used as a general synonym for speeding up a process.
Did you know?
- The word agilizar comes from ágil, which means 'agile'. To expedite a process in Spanish is literally to make that process 'agile'.
- The verb agilizar is formed by adding the suffix -izar to the word ágil. This suffix is used in Spanish to transform adjectives into verbs that mean 'to make' or 'to become'.
- While 'expedite' is a common English verb for making things move faster, using its lookalike expeditar in Spanish can make you sound like a shipping clerk or a lawyer.
Examples in context
- Podemos acelerar el proceso de entregaWe can expedite the delivery process
- Debemos apretar el paso para concluir el proyecto a tiempoWe need to expedite the project's completion
- Vamos a agilizar los trámites administrativosWe are going to expedite the administrative procedures
- Hay que darle caña a este proyectoWe need to expedite this project
- Vamos, échale ganas para acabar prontoCome on, put in effort to finish quickly
- Hay que meterle turbo a este trabajoWe need to expedite this job
- Tenemos que acelerar el proceso de producción para cumplir con la demandaWe need to expedite the production process to meet the demand
- Tienes razón, podemos contratar más personal para agilizar el trabajoYou're right, we can hire more staff to expedite the work
- ¡Vamos muchachos, hay que meterle turbo a esta tarea!Come on guys, we need to expedite this task!
- Sí, es importante echarle ganas para terminar rápidoYes, it's important to put in effort to finish quickly
- Debemos agilizar el proceso de inscripción.We must expedite the registration process.
- El nuevo software ayudará a agilizar el trabajo.The new software will help expedite the work.
- ¿Podría agilizar el envío de mi pedido?Could you expedite the shipment of my order?
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are discussing a project deadline at the office.
- LucíaMateo, tenemos que entregar el informe mañana.Mateo, we have to deliver the report tomorrow.
- MateoEstá bien, voy a agilizar la revisión final.All right, I will expedite the final review.
- LucíaGracias, eso nos ayudaría mucho.Thanks, that would help us a lot.
- MateoLo tendré listo en una hora.I will have it ready in an hour.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “expedite” translations and entries agilizar, acelerar, apresurar, expeditar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
