Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| schnell | /ʃnɛl/ |
| rasch | |
| geschwind | /ɡəˈʃvɪnt/ |
schnell is the standard German word for 'quickly' or 'fast'. It can function as both an adverb and an adjective. While it primarily focuses on the speed of an action or movement, other words like rasch can be used to imply a sense of promptness or a quick response to a situation.
Which one should you use?
schnell is the most common term and focuses on the speed of an action. In contrast, rasch often implies being prompt or responding quickly to a situation. For a more specific sense of speed, you might encounter the idiom Schnell wie der Wind, which literally means 'as fast as the wind'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
schnell is suitable for both formal and informal situations. rasch is a slightly more formal term, as is zügig. On the other hand, fix is a colloquial term similar to saying 'quick' in English and geschwind is a literary term rarely used in modern everyday conversation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
geschwind is considered a regional term.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the comparative form 'faster', you add the suffix -er to the base form to get schneller.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃnɛl/
Did you know?
- The word schnell originates from a Proto-Germanic root that meant not only 'quick' but also 'bold' and 'brave'.
- In colloquial German, the word fix is used to mean 'quick'. This is a distinct usage from the English 'fix', treating speed as a characteristic of a task done rapidly.
- In certain regional dialects, geschwind is still used in everyday speech to mean 'just for a second', such as popping into a shop quickly.
Examples in context
- Tom isst zu schnell.Tom eats too quickly.This sentence shows how to use schnell to describe the speed of eating.Tatoeba #7500324 by Yorwba, translation #9509297 by CK
- Iß nicht zu schnell!Don't eat too quickly.This sentence is an imperative warning using schnell.Tatoeba #13425258 by Waldelfe, translation #11933225 by CK
- Er läuft sehr schnell.He's running very quickly.This sentence demonstrates schnell in the context of running speed.Tatoeba #1314845 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #817966 by Cindrogriza
- Bitte erledigen Sie das schnellPlease do this quickly
- Bitte bearbeiten Sie dies zügigPlease process this quickly
- Können wir das fix erledigen?Can we do this quick?
- Komm doch mal flott her!Come here quickly!
- Das machen wir ratzfatzWe'll do that quickly
- Das geht wirklich schnellThat's really quick
- 715 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are walking to a movie that is about to start.
- JuliaWir müssen jetzt schnell gehen.We have to go quickly now.
- FelixJa, der Film beginnt gleich.Yes, the movie is starting soon.
- JuliaLauf bitte nicht so schnell!Please don't run so fast!
- FelixKeine Sorge, ich warte auf dich.Don't worry, I am waiting for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “quickly” translations and entries schnell, rasch, geschwind, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries geschwind, rasch, schnell, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
