despacha-te
To say "hurry up" in Portuguese, use despacha-te.
If you want to focus more on the physical speed of movement rather than finishing a task, you can use apressa-te.
Meaning: go faster (verb)
Which one should you use?
While despacha-te implies finishing a task or getting ready, apressa-te focuses more on the physical speed of movement.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase despacha-te is a commonly used informal way to tell someone to hurry up, particularly in Portugal.
How does it change in a sentence?
despacha-te is the singular informal imperative used when speaking to one person. To tell a group of people to hurry up, use the plural form despachem-se. To tell one person to hurry up using a formal tone, use despache-se.
Did you know?
- In some Afro-Brazilian traditions, despacho refers to a spiritual offering or ritual object left at a crossroads to move negative energy away.
- If you want to tell someone to 'hurry up' because they are being too slow with their words or a story, you might use desembucha! which literally means 'spit it out!'
- In some Portuguese-speaking contexts, if someone is 'despachado', it doesn't mean they are in a hurry, but rather that they are a very efficient, clever, and resourceful person.
Examples in context
- Despacha-te, antes que chegue a tua prima.Hurry up, before your cousin comes.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use despacha-te when warning someone about a deadline or arrival.Tatoeba #7312222 by iart61, translation #10357640 by DJ_Saidez
- Precisamos que você termine o relatório o mais rápido possível.We need you to finish the report as soon as possible.
- Vamos chegar atrasados! Anda logo!We're going to be late! Hurry up!
- O filme já vai começar. Despacha-te!The movie is about to start. Hurry up!
- Despacha-te, o filme já vai começar.Hurry up, the movie is about to start.
- Despacha-te com essas malas!Hurry up with those suitcases!
Example conversation
Juliana and Lucas are leaving the house to catch a bus.
- JulianaLucas, despacha-te ou perdemos o autocarro.Lucas, hurry up or we will miss the bus.
- LucasJá estou quase pronto, Juliana.I am almost ready, Juliana.
- JulianaDiz isso há dez minutos!You have been saying that for ten minutes!
- LucasVou apanhar as chaves e vamos.I will grab the keys and we go.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
