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enseguida

/en-seh-GEE-dah/

AdverbA1
right away?General use,immediately?Slightly more formal equivalent
Also:straight away?Common in British English,at once?Slightly more formal,in a moment?When there's a very short delay

📝 In Action

Vuelvo enseguida.

A1

I'll be back right away.

Llama al doctor enseguida, por favor.

A2

Call the doctor immediately, please.

Termino este correo y te ayudo enseguida.

B1

I'll finish this email and help you in a moment.

Cuando llegué a casa, me puse a cocinar enseguida.

B1

When I got home, I started cooking straight away.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ahora mismo (right now)
  • inmediatamente (immediately)
  • ya mismo (right now)
  • al momento (at the moment, instantly)

Antonyms

  • más tarde (later)
  • después (after)
  • luego (then, later)

Common Collocations

  • volver enseguida – to be right back
  • hacerlo enseguida – to do it right away
  • venir enseguida – to come right away

💡 Grammar Points

Where does 'enseguida' go?

This word is flexible! You can put it at the start, at the end, or right after the action word (verb). For example: 'Enseguida voy' (I'm coming right away), 'Voy enseguida', and 'Te llamo enseguida' (I'll call you right away) are all perfect.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Is it one word or two?

Mistake: "Writing 'en seguida' as two separate words."

Correction: Today, the correct and standard way is to write it as one word: 'enseguida'. It started as two words a long time ago ('en seguida'), so you might see it in older books, but you should always use the modern, single-word version.

⭐ Usage Tips

A Softer Way to Say 'Immediately'

'Enseguida' feels a bit more natural and relaxed in everyday chat than 'inmediatamente'. While they mean the same thing, 'inmediatamente' can sound more urgent or formal, like something in an official instruction or on a sign.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: enseguida

Question 1 of 1

If your friend says, 'Preparo el café enseguida,' when will you get your coffee?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

seguir(to follow, to continue) - verb
seguido(consecutive, often) - adjective/adverb
siguiente(next, following) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'enseguida', 'ahora mismo', and 'ya'?

Great question! They're similar but have different flavors. 'Enseguida' means 'right away' or 'in a moment'—a promise of immediate action. 'Ahora mismo' is a bit more intense, like 'right this very second'. 'Ya' is the most flexible; it can mean 'now' ('¡Ya voy!' - I'm coming now!), 'already' ('Ya comí' - I already ate), or even 'later' depending on the tone. 'Enseguida' is a clear and common way to say 'immediately' without being too forceful.