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A brightly colored illustration showing a small figure running rapidly, emphasizing speed and urgency with motion lines.

apúrate

ah-POO-rah-teh

Verb (Command)A1regular, reflexive ar
Hurry up!?Informal urgent command
Also:Get a move on!?Informal command to speed up,Make it quick!?Asking someone to finish something fast

Quick Reference

infinitiveapurarse
gerundapurándose
past Participleapurado

📝 In Action

¡Apúrate! Vamos a perder el autobús.

A1

Hurry up! We are going to miss the bus.

Por favor, apúrate con la comida, tengo mucha hambre.

A2

Please, hurry up with the food, I'm very hungry.

Si no te apúrate, llegaremos tarde a la reunión.

A2

If you don't hurry up, we will arrive late to the meeting.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • date prisa (hurry up (use of prisa))
  • muévete (move it)

Antonyms

  • cálmate (calm down)
  • tómate tu tiempo (take your time)

Common Collocations

  • ¡Apúrate o es tarde! – Hurry up or it's late!

💡 Grammar Points

Affirmative Commands: Attaching Pronouns

When you give a positive command like 'apúrate,' the little word 'te' (which means 'yourself' in this context) gets glued directly to the end of the verb. This makes it one word.

The Stress Mark

The accent mark on the 'ú' (apúrate) is essential. It tells you where to put the vocal stress, which changes when you add the 'te' to the two-syllable command 'apura'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Separating the Command

Mistake: "Using '¡Apura te!' as two separate words."

Correction: The correct usage is the single word '¡Apúrate!' The pronoun always attaches to the end of a positive command.

Using the Formal Command Too Informally

Mistake: "Saying 'apúrese' to a child or close friend."

Correction: 'Apúrese' is the polite, formal command (for 'usted'). You should only use the informal 'apúrate' (for 'tú') with people you know well.

⭐ Usage Tips

The Base Verb

'Apúrate' comes from the verb 'apurarse' (to hurry oneself). If you want to say 'He hurries,' you would use the regular form 'se apura'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: apúrate

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses the formal command form of 'hurry up'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

apurarse(to hurry (infinitive)) - verb
apuro(hurry, trouble, tight spot) - noun
apurado(rushed, in a hurry) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'apúrate' and 'date prisa'?

Both mean 'Hurry up!' 'Apúrate' comes from the verb 'apurarse' and is very common. 'Date prisa' literally means 'Give yourself speed' and is also extremely common and interchangeable with 'apúrate' in most situations.

How do I make 'apúrate' less demanding or aggressive?

Since 'apúrate' is a direct command, you can soften it by adding 'por favor' (please) at the beginning or end, or by changing the tone of your voice. For example, 'Por favor, ¡apúrate un poquito!'