velocidad
“velocidad” means “speed” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
speed, velocity
Also: pace
📝 In Action
El límite de velocidad en esta calle es de 50 kilómetros por hora.
A2The speed limit on this street is 50 kilometers per hour.
El corredor aumentó su velocidad en la última vuelta.
B1The runner increased his speed on the last lap.
Tienes que bajar la velocidad antes de tomar la curva.
A2You have to reduce your speed before taking the curve.
rate, pace
Also: throughput
📝 In Action
La velocidad de procesamiento de este nuevo chip es asombrosa.
B1The processing speed of this new chip is astonishing.
Necesitamos aumentar la velocidad de respuesta al cliente.
B2We need to increase the speed (rate) of customer response.
El director notó que la velocidad del proyecto era muy baja.
B2The director noticed that the project's pace was very slow.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: velocidad
Question 1 of 2
Which phrase describes a physical restriction on movement?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *velōcitātem*, which is built from *velox* (meaning 'swift' or 'rapid') and the suffix *-tātem* (which indicates a state or quality, like '-ty' in English).
First recorded: Medieval Latin, around the 13th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'velocidad' feminine?
Spanish nouns ending in the suffix -dad (like 'ciudad,' 'libertad,' 'calidad') are almost always feminine. This pattern is very reliable, so remember 'la velocidad'.
Can I use 'velocidad' and 'rapidez' interchangeably?
Usually, yes. They both mean 'speed' or 'quickness.' However, 'velocidad' is often preferred when referring to a measurable rate (like a car's speed or internet bandwidth), while 'rapidez' often emphasizes the quality of being quick or swift in general.