hablar rápido
/ablaɾ ɾapido/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'talk fast' is translated into Spanish as hablar rápido.
Hablar rápido is a straightforward and neutral way to express the concept of talking fast. You can also use the synonym hablar deprisa, as these two can be used interchangeably in most contexts. For a more descriptive comparison, the phrase Hablar como una metralleta compares fast talking to the rhythm of a machine gun.
How does it change in a sentence?
While hablar rápido is the infinitive form, if you are telling someone 'you talk fast' in an informal setting, use hablas rápido.
How do you pronounce it?
/ablaɾ ɾapido/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the phrase hablar hasta por los codos describes someone who talks excessively. While it literally means 'talking even through the elbows', it refers to a compulsive need to speak.
- While English speakers might say someone is 'talking a mile a minute', a Spanish speaker might say they are hablando a toda mecha, which compares their speech to a fuse burning rapidly.
- The English word 'fable' and the Spanish verb hablar are distant cousins because they both trace back to the same Latin root describing conversation and storytelling.
Examples in context
- Por favor, hable más rápidoPlease, speak faster
- ¿Podría hablar un poco más rápido, por favor?Could you speak a bit faster, please?
- ¡Hablas a toda velocidad! No puedo seguirteYou talk at full speed! I can't keep up with you
- Cuando te emocionas, ¡hablas como una metralleta!When you get excited, you speak like a machine gun!
- ¡Oye, habla más rápido, no tengo todo el día!Hey, speak faster, I don't have all day!
- Disculpe, ¿podría hablar más rápido? No logro captar todo lo que dice.Excuse me, could you speak faster? I'm not able to grasp everything you're saying.
- Por supuesto, intentaré hablar más rápido y claro.Of course, I'll try to speak faster and clearer.
- No hables tan rápido, no te entiendo.Don't talk so fast, I don't understand you.
- Él suele hablar rápido cuando está nervioso.He tends to talk fast when he is nervous.
- Puedes hablar rápido si quieres, pero no te entiendo.You can talk fast if you want, but I don't understand you.
Example conversation
Daniel is practicing his Spanish with Lucía.
- DanielPerdón, ¿puedes repetir eso?Sorry, can you repeat that?
- LucíaSí, creo que empecé a hablar rápido.Yes, I think I started to talk fast.
- DanielNo pasa nada, solo voy despacio.It's okay, I'm just going slowly.
- LucíaDe acuerdo, iré más lento ahora.Alright, I will go slower now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hablar, rápido, CC BY-SA 4.0.
