vite
/vit/
vite is the French way to say "quickly" or "fast".
vite is an adverb used to describe an action performed at a high speed or in a short time.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between the adverb vite and the adjective rapide. While vite describes how an action is performed, rapide is used to describe a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/vit/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the adjective rapide as an adverb in contexts where vite is required, such as saying parle rapide instead of parle vite.
Did you know?
- In casual spoken French, vite is often used as a shorthand command to mean 'hurry up', effectively replacing a full sentence like dépêche-toi.
- The word vite might actually be linked to the concept of 'seeing', stemming from the idea of something happening so quickly that it is 'at sight' or 'at a glance'.
- French speakers often use the expression vite fait to describe something done quickly but carelessly, similar to the English 'slapped together'.
Examples in context
- Le courrier doit être livré à toute vitesseThe mail must be delivered at full speed
- J'ai fait une petite réparation vite faitI quickly made a small repair
- Il est arrivé chez moi à toute allureHe arrived at my place in a hurry
- Dépêche-toi, vite !Hurry up, fast!
- Il court très vite.He runs very fast.
- Réponds-moi vite, s'il te plaît.Answer me quickly, please.
- Le train est passé vite.The train passed quickly.
Example conversation
Lucas and Chloé are running to catch a bus.
- LucasDépêche-toi, il faut marcher vite !Hurry up, we need to walk fast!
- ChloéJe marche vite, mais je suis fatiguée.I am walking fast, but I am tired.
- LucasRegarde, le bus arrive vite.Look, the bus is arriving quickly.
- ChloéEnfin ! On va l'attraper.Finally! We are going to catch it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry vite, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vite, CC BY-SA 4.0.
