Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| correr | /koˈreɾ/ |
| precipitar | /pɾeθipiˈtaɾ/ /pɾesipiˈtaɾ/ |
| verse negro | /beɾse neɡɾo/ (from spelling rules) |
When you want to express the act of moving quickly, you can use correr. If you are describing a situation as being in a rush, you might use the term urgente (urgent) or the phrase con prisa (in a hurry). To express the state of being in a rush, such as saying "I am in a rush," Spanish speakers typically use the phrase tener prisa, which literally means "to have haste."
Which one should you use?
While correr literally means "to run," it is the most common way to express the act of rushing or moving quickly in a physical sense. In contrast, precipitar is used when "rush" implies doing something too hastily or causing an event to happen prematurely, rather than just moving fast. The phrase verse negro is another form available in the language.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/koˈreɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying estoy corriendo if you mean "I am rushing an action" (such as a task or a decision). In Spanish, estoy corriendo specifically means "I am physically running."
Did you know?
- The word correr shares a common ancestor with the English word 'current', as both trace back to the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱers- which relates to running or flowing.
- The phrase verse negro is an idiom used to describe being in a tight spot, which is a very different concept from the speed implied by 'rush'.
- The phrase tener prisa uses the verb 'to have' rather than 'to be'. In Spanish, haste is treated as a possession rather than a state of being.
Examples in context
- El gerente se apresuró a tomar una decisión importante.The manager rushed to make an important decision.
- Si no corremos, llegaremos tarde a la reunión.If we don't rush, we'll be late for the meeting.
- Nos queda poco tiempo, así que debemos darnos prisa.We have little time left, so we must rush.
- ¡Vamos, acelera el paso, o perderemos el autobús!Come on, hurry up, or we'll miss the bus!
- Tuve que ir como loco/a para no llegar tarde a la fiesta.I had to rush like crazy to not arrive late to the party.
- Tengo que apresurarme si quiero atrapar el último tren.I need to rush if I want to catch the last train.
- ¡Dense prisa o nos perderemos el vuelo!Hurry up, or we'll miss our flight!
- Acelera el paso si no quieres llegar tarde a la cita.Hurry up if you don't want to be late for the appointment.
- No me gusta ir como loca, prefiero disfrutar del camino.I don't like rushing, I prefer to enjoy the journey.
- No hay por qué correr.There is no need to rush.
- Tenemos que correr para llegar a tiempo.We have to rush to arrive on time.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are leaving a restaurant to catch a movie.
- Elena¡Tenemos que correr si queremos ver la película!We have to rush if we want to see the movie!
- DanielNo te preocupes, Elena, todavía hay tiempo.Don't worry, Elena, there is still time.
- ElenaPero no quiero correr de nuevo por la calle.But I don't want to rush through the street again.
- DanielEstá bien, caminemos con calma.Alright, let's walk calmly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rush” translations and entries correr, precipitar, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries correr, negro, precipitar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
