rápido

/RRA-pee-doh/

fast

A bright red bullet train speeding across a green landscape.

Visualizing the adjective 'rápido' describing a fast object, here a speeding train.

rápido(Adjective)

mA1

fast?describing speed of movement,quick?describing something that takes a short time

Also:rapid?more formal, often used for changes or growth

📝 In Action

El tren es muy rápido.

The train is very fast.

Necesito una solución rápida.

I need a quick solution.

Fue un desayuno rápido porque teníamos prisa.

It was a quick breakfast because we were in a hurry.

Word Connections

Synonyms

veloz (swift, fast)
ligero (light, quick)

Antonyms

lento (slow)
pausado (unhurried, deliberate)

Common Collocations

comida rápida – fast food
acceso rápido – quick access
crecimiento rápido – rapid growth

💡 Grammar Points

Making it Match: Rápido vs. Rápida

Like most Spanish describing words, rápido must change to match the noun it describes. Use rápido for masculine things (el coche rápido) and rápida for feminine things (la moto rápida). Add an -s for plural things (los coches rápidos, las motos rápidas).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting to Match Feminine Nouns

Mistake: "La respuesta fue muy rápido."

Correction: La respuesta fue muy rápida. Because `respuesta` is a feminine word, the describing word `rápido` needs to end with an `-a` to match it.

⭐ Usage Tips

Rápido vs. Veloz

Rápido is your go-to, everyday word for 'fast' or 'quick'. Veloz also means 'fast' but sounds a bit more dramatic or technical. You'd use it for things known for their impressive speed, like a cheetah (un guepardo veloz) or a sports car.

A small child quickly placing the final block on a very tall tower of colorful blocks.

Illustrating the adverbial use of 'rápido', showing an action being completed quickly.

rápido(Adverb)

quickly?describing how an action is done,fast?describing how an action is done, e.g., 'run fast'

📝 In Action

¡Ven rápido, por favor!

Come quickly, please!

Ella aprende muy rápido.

She learns very quickly.

Si terminas rápido, podemos ir al cine.

If you finish quickly, we can go to the movies.

Word Connections

Synonyms

rápidamente (quickly)
deprisa (quickly, in a hurry)

Antonyms

despacio (slowly)
lentamente (slowly)

Common Collocations

hablar rápido – to speak quickly
actuar rápido – to act quickly
pasar rápido (el tiempo) – to go by quickly (time)

💡 Grammar Points

The Adverb Shortcut

To describe how an action is done, you can often use the masculine form rápido. It never changes. This is a common shortcut for the longer -mente words like rápidamente.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Trying to Make it Match

Mistake: "Mi hermana corre muy rápida."

Correction: Mi hermana corre muy rápido. When you're describing a verb (like `corre`), the word stays `rápido`. It doesn't matter if a man, woman, or group is doing the running.

⭐ Usage Tips

Choosing Between `rápido` and `rápidamente`

Both mean 'quickly' and are often interchangeable. Rápido is more common in everyday chat. Rápidamente is perfect for writing or when you want to sound a little more formal. You can't go wrong with either!

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: rápido

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

rapidez(speed, quickness) - noun

rápidamente(quickly, rapidly) - adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between `rápido` and `rápidamente`?

They both mean 'quickly' and are often interchangeable. `Rápido` is a very common shortcut used in everyday conversation. `Rápidamente` is the more 'official' adverb and is great for writing or more formal speech. You can use either one to describe how an action is done.

When do I use `rápido` vs. `rápida`?

It depends on its job in the sentence. If it's describing a person or thing (an adjective), it must match: `un coche rápido` (masculine), `una decisión rápida` (feminine). If it's describing an action (an adverb), it always stays `rápido`: `Él corre rápido`, `Ella corre rápido`.