festīnō
To hurry in Latin is to say festīnō. Wiktionary also lists ruō.
Meaning: to do things quickly (verb)
Ways to say it
| Latin |
|---|
| festīnō |
| ruō |
The verb festīnō means to do things quickly. You may also encounter festīnāre, which is the infinitive form used to express the concept of 'to hurry'.
Which one should you use?
While festīnō is used for the sense of making haste or acting with speed, ruō often implies a more physical or reckless rushing/falling towards a destination. Specifically, ruō carries a stronger connotation of rushing headlong or even falling/crashing.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are telling one person to hurry, use the imperative singular form festīnā. If you are telling a group of people to hurry, use the imperative plural form festīnāte.
Did you know?
- The verb ruō describes a motion so violent that it is used to describe both a charging army and a collapsing building. It captures the terrifying speed of a landslide or a sudden ruin.
Examples in context
- Festina!Hurry!
- Festina, tempus fugit!Hurry, time is fleeting!
- Festina, tempus est angustum!Hurry, time is short!
- Accelerandum est!It must be hastened!
- Curre, amici nos exspectant.Hurry, friends are waiting for us.
- Festīnō ad cenam.I hurry to dinner.
- Nōn festīnō semper.I do not always hurry.
- Festīnō ut celeriter adveniam.I hurry so that I may arrive quickly.
Example conversation
Julia and Marcus are walking to a meeting.
- JuliaCur festīnō?Why am I hurrying?
- MarcusTempus fugit, Julia.Time is flying, Julia.
- JuliaIta, festīnō ergo.Yes, therefore I hurry.
- MarcusBene, Lucius nos exspectat.Good, Lucius is waiting for us.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hurry” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
