prisa
“prisa” means “hurry” in Spanish (the state of needing to go or do something quickly).
hurry, rush
Also: haste, urgency
📝 In Action
Tengo prisa, no puedo hablar ahora.
A1I'm in a hurry, I can't talk right now.
¿Por qué tanta prisa? Tenemos tiempo.
A2Why such a rush? We have time.
¡Date prisa o perderemos el tren!
A2Hurry up or we'll miss the train!
Hizo el trabajo con prisa y cometió muchos errores.
B1He did the work in a hurry and made a lot of mistakes.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: prisa
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'We are in a hurry'?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'pressa', which is related to the verb 'premere', meaning 'to press' or 'to squeeze'. The idea is of being 'pressed' or pressured by time.
First recorded: Around the 13th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'tener prisa' and 'darse prisa'?
'Tener prisa' describes your state: you feel rushed or are short on time (e.g., 'No puedo parar, tengo prisa'). 'Darse prisa' is an action or a command to move faster (e.g., '¡Date prisa, vamos a llegar tarde!' which means 'Hurry up, we're going to be late!').
Can I say 'de prisa' instead of 'con prisa'?
Yes, both 'de prisa' and 'con prisa' mean 'in a hurry' or 'hastily' and are often used interchangeably. For example, 'Caminaba con prisa' and 'Caminaba de prisa' both mean 'He was walking in a hurry.'