Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| veloce | /veˈlo.t͡ʃe/ /veˈlɔ.t͡ʃe/ |
| rapido | /ˈra.pi.do/ |
| svelto | /ˈzvɛl.to/ /ˈzvel.to/ |
These words are used to describe someone or something moving with speed. While veloce describes a person or thing, if you want to express the action of doing something quickly or being in a rush, Italians often use the phrase fare in fretta.
Which one should you use?
Veloce is the most common and versatile term for 'quick' or 'fast' in general contexts. Rapido often implies a sense of suddenness or a high rate of speed, similar to 'rapid' in English and svelto can carry a connotation of being nimble or having quick reflexes.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective veloce is the same for both masculine and feminine singular subjects. The plural form of veloce is veloci for both masculine and feminine subjects.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /veˈlo.tʃe/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The word svelto originally comes from a verb meaning 'to pluck out' or 'to root out'.
- When an Italian says svelto as a command, they are often implying the person should be nimble and efficient, not just fast.
Examples in context
- È veloce in tutto.She is quick at everything.This sentence uses veloce to describe someone's general speed.Tatoeba #1465195 by Guybrush88, translation #312819 by CK
- Rapido, me lo dia.Quick, give me that.This sentence uses rapido to command quick action.Tatoeba #6846398 by Guybrush88, translation #3151308 by CK
- È veloce ad imparare.He is quick to learn.This sentence uses veloce to describe the speed of learning.Tatoeba #2435896 by Guybrush88, translation #298441 by Jesse
- Il treno è molto veloce.The train is very quick.
- Dobbiamo finire presto.We must finish quickly.
- Il servizio clienti è immediato.The customer service is immediate.
- Siamo stati svelti nell'organizzare tutto.We were quick in organizing everything.
- Vado in fretta, altrimenti perderò l'autobus.I'm going quickly, or else I'll miss the bus.
- 78 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are waiting at a train station.
- ChiaraFrancesco, questo treno è veloce?Francesco, is this train fast?
- FrancescoSì, è molto veloce.Yes, it is very fast.
- ChiaraOttimo, così arriviamo presto.Great, so we will arrive early.
- FrancescoSpero che non faccia ritardo.I hope it is not late.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “quick” translations and entries veloce, rapido, svelto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rapido, svelto, veloce, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
