tan rápido
/tan ɾapido/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "so fast" is translated as tan rápido.
The phrase is used to describe an action occurring at a very high speed.
What does it mean word for word?
In this phrase, tan means "so" or "as" and rápido means "fast".
Which one should you use?
Use tan rápido when you want to provide emphasis or make a comparison (meaning "so fast"). If you simply want to state a high degree of speed (meaning "very fast"), use muy rápido instead.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, it is common to use súper rápido to mean "so fast". In Argentina, the expression a las chapas is used to indicate "so fast".
How does it change in a sentence?
Although rápido is an adjective, in the phrase tan rápido it functions as an adverb to describe how an action is performed.
How do you pronounce it?
/tan ɾapido/
Did you know?
- While tan rápido is standard, people in Argentina might use the idiom a las chapas to describe something happening at extreme speed.
- Spanish has a 'doublet' for the word rápido called raudo, which comes from the same Latin root but is now mostly used in poetic or formal writing.
- In Spanish, rápido can function as both an adjective and an adverb without changing its form.
Examples in context
- No hables tan rápido.Don't speak so fast.This sentence is useful for showing how to use tan rápido when asking someone not to speak at a certain speed.Tatoeba #642355 by Leono, translation #41491 by CK
- No camines tan rápido.Don't walk so fast.This sentence is useful for showing how to use tan rápido when asking someone not to walk at a certain speed.Tatoeba #399400 by catakaoe, translation #41486 by CK
- Todo ocurrió tan rápido.It all happened so fast.This sentence is useful for showing how to use tan rápido to describe how an event occurred.Tatoeba #1325228 by marcelostockle, translation #1325225 by Scott
- Corrí tan rápido que me quedé sin alientoI ran so fast that I was out of breath
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are walking in a park.
- SofíaMateo, no vayas tan rápido.Mateo, don't go so fast.
- MateoLo siento, es que tengo prisa.I'm sorry, it's just that I'm in a hurry.
- SofíaCasi no puedo seguirte.I can barely keep up with you.
- MateoEstá bien, voy más despacio.Alright, I'll go slower.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
