Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| con velocidad | /kon beloθidad/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /kon belosidad/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
| con prontitud | /kon pɾontitud/ (from spelling rules) |
| con celeridad | /kon θeleɾidad/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /kon seleɾidad/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
| con presteza | /kon pɾesteθa/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /kon pɾestesa/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
| deprisa | /deˈpɾisa/ |
| velozmente | /beˌloθˈmente/ /beˌlosˈmente/ |
| céleremente | /θeleɾemente/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /seleɾemente/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
| a todo ful | /a todo ful/ (from spelling rules) |
| en dos toques | /en dos tokes/ (from spelling rules) |
| aceleradamente | /aθeleˌɾadaˈmente/ /aseleˌɾadaˈmente/ |
The various forms of quickly describe rapid or fast movement. aceleradamente is used specifically when describing a process that is increasing in speed or happening at an accelerating pace.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal contexts, use rápidamente as the standard translation or velozmente to convey speed. Prontamente is a formal term often found in written language. Con prontitud is used to express that something was done without delay, often in a professional or polite context. Con celeridad is a highly formal or bureaucratic way to say quickly, often used in legal or official contexts and is used to convey promptness and swiftness. De volada is used colloquially to convey the notion of speed in certain regions such as Mexico.
How does it change in a sentence?
rápidamente is the most common single-word adverb for 'quickly' and is often a more natural alternative to the phrase con velocidad.
Did you know?
- While rápidamente is the standard adverb, Spanish speakers often use the phrase a todo trapo to describe going as fast as possible, particularly when driving.
- The Spanish word presteza shares its root with the English word 'prestidigitator', which refers to a magician or someone quick with their hands.
- The term en dos toques can be used to describe something happening very quickly, literally implying it happened in 'two touches'.
Examples in context
- No puedo ir más deprisa.I can't go any more quickly.This sentence is useful for expressing a limit on speed using deprisa.Tatoeba #4388596 by saverius, translation #7795986 by sharris123
- Todo ocurrió demasiado deprisa.Everything happened too quickly.This sentence is useful for describing how quickly an event occurred using deprisa.Tatoeba #6820891 by arh, translation #6820409 by CK
- Las ardillas se mueven velozmente.Squirrels move quickly.This sentence is useful for describing the movement of animals using velozmente.Tatoeba #1256505 by marcelostockle, translation #497132 by CK
- Debes finalizar el informe rápidamente.You must finish the report quickly.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are preparing for a trip.
- LucíaTenemos que empacar todo con velocidad.We have to pack everything quickly.
- AlejandroSí, el taxi llega en cinco minutos.Yes, the taxi arrives in five minutes.
- LucíaEntonces muévete con velocidad, Alejandro.Then move quickly, Alejandro.
- AlejandroYa casi termino de cerrar la maleta.I am almost finished closing the suitcase.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “quickly” translations and entries deprisa, velozmente, aceleradamente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
