Inklingo

How to Say "haste" in Spanish

English → Spanish

prisa

/PREE-sah//ˈpɾisa/

nounA1general
Use 'prisa' for the general sense of needing to hurry or being in a hurry, especially in everyday, common situations.
A high-speed cartoon character running extremely fast down a path with motion lines, showing a wide-eyed, stressed expression to convey urgency and hurry.

Examples

Tengo prisa, no puedo hablar ahora.

I'm in a hurry, I can't talk right now.

¿Por qué tanta prisa? Tenemos tiempo.

Why such a rush? We have time.

¡Date prisa o perderemos el tren!

Hurry up or we'll miss the train!

Use 'Tener' (to have), not 'Estar' (to be)

In English, you say 'I am in a hurry.' But in Spanish, you 'have' a hurry. Always use the verb 'tener' to describe this feeling. For example: 'Tengo prisa' (I'm in a hurry).

Saying 'Estoy prisa'

Mistake: “Estoy prisa porque el autobús llega pronto.”

Correction: Tengo prisa porque el autobús llega pronto. Remember, in Spanish, a 'hurry' is something you possess or have, not a state you are in.

apuro

/ah-POO-roh//aˈpuɾo/

nounA2general
Choose 'apuro' when you are feeling slightly rushed or pressed for time, often implying a less critical situation than 'urgencia'.
A person with a backpack running quickly down a path with toast in their mouth.

Examples

No tengo apuro, podemos hablar más tarde.

I'm in no hurry, we can talk later.

Caminaba con mucho apuro por la calle.

He was walking down the street in a great rush.

Apuro vs. Prisa

In Spain, 'prisa' is the standard word for hurry. In parts of Latin America, 'apuro' is used just as frequently to mean you need to go fast.

urgencia

/oor-HEN-syah//uɾˈxensja/

nounA2general
Use 'urgencia' when there is a critical or very important need to act quickly, suggesting a matter of high priority.
A ringing red alarm bell on a plain background with motion lines.

Examples

No hay ninguna urgencia, tómate tu tiempo.

There is no urgency, take your time.

Atendieron el asunto con mucha urgencia.

They handled the matter with great urgency.

Feminine Word Pattern

Most Spanish words ending in '-cia' are feminine. You should always use feminine markers like 'la' or 'una' with it.

Using 'urgencia' as an adjective

Mistake: “Es muy urgencia.”

Correction: Es muy urgente.

Prisa vs. Apuro

The most common confusion is between 'prisa' and 'apuro'. While both mean hurry, 'prisa' is the default and more frequent term for simply being in a hurry. 'Apuro' often carries a slightly stronger sense of being pressed for time or in a bit of a bind.

Related Translations

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