Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| vite | /vit/ |
| rapidement | /ʁa.pid.mɑ̃/ |
Both terms describe doing something at a high speed. You can use vite as an interjection by itself, such as Vite !, to command someone to hurry up. For a more idiomatic way to say someone is doing something in a rush, you can use the phrase en vitesse. Another informal expression used to indicate doing something at full speed is À toute vitesse.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean 'quickly', vite is more common in spoken, informal French and often refers to physical speed. In contrast, rapidement is more formal or precise, often implying a sense of efficiency or a high rate of speed. Rapidement is the adverbial form derived from the adjective rapide.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Vite is an informal form. Rapidement is better suited for formal or precise contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase en vitesse is a common idiomatic way to express doing something quickly or in a hurry.
How do you pronounce it?
/vit/
Did you know?
- The word vite may be linked to the Latin word for 'seen', suggesting that something done 'quickly' is something done so fast it is barely caught by the eye.
- Using the phrase en vitesse often implies that something is being done hastily or perhaps carelessly because of the rush.
Examples in context
- Vite, sors d'ici !Get out of here quickly!The first sentence uses vite to command someone to leave a place quickly.Tatoeba #1000768 by sacredceltic, translation #876040 by papabear
- Partez en vitesse !Leave, quickly!The second sentence uses vite to tell someone to leave quickly.Tatoeba #10467394 by Julien_PDC, translation #10472354 by Ooneykcall
- Il s'est vite lassé.He got bored quickly.The third sentence uses vite to describe how quickly someone became bored.Tatoeba #1880117 by sacredceltic, translation #1879891 by Spamster
- Il a terminé son travail rapidement.He finished his work quickly.
- Le projet doit être finalisé rapidement.The project needs to be completed quickly.
- Nous devons régler ce problème vite.We need to solve this problem quickly.
- Le temps presse, il faut partir vite.Time is running out, we need to leave quickly.
- Je reviens tout de suite.I'll be right back.
- Nous avons couru à toute vitesse pour attraper le train.We ran quickly to catch the train.
- Il conduit toujours à toute vitesse.He always drives at full speed.
- Il a terminé son travail rondement.He completed his work quickly and efficiently.
- Les choses doivent être faites rondement ici.Things need to be done quickly and efficiently here.
- 490 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are getting ready to leave the house.
- ChloéDépêche-toi, Lucas, on doit partir vite !Hurry up, Lucas, we have to leave quickly!
- LucasJ'arrive, j'ai juste besoin de mes clés.I'm coming, I just need my keys.
- ChloéTu es toujours si lent le matin.You are always so slow in the morning.
- LucasNe t'inquiète pas, je vais vite !Don't worry, I'll be quick!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “quickly” translations and entries vite, rapidement, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rapidement, vite, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
