Inklingo

How to Say "hurry up!" in Spanish

English → Spanish

apúrate

Verb (Command)A1Informal
Use this informal, direct command when you want someone to speed up in a general situation.

Examples

¡Apúrate! Vamos a llegar tarde.

Hurry up! We're going to be late.

date prisa

Idiomatic CommandA1General
This is a very common and slightly more formal way to tell someone to hurry, often used when there's a specific time constraint.

Examples

¡Date prisa! El tren sale en cinco minutos.

Hurry up! The train leaves in five minutes.

muévete

Verb (Command form)A1Informal
Use this when you want to tell someone to move faster because they are being too slow or inactive.

Examples

¡Muévete! No tenemos todo el día.

Move it! We don't have all day.

corran

/KOH-rran/ (Roll the R sound)ˈko.rãn

Verb (Command Form)A1Informal
This is the plural command form, used when addressing multiple people and urging them to move quickly, often implying a need to run or move very fast.
Three figures running swiftly across a bright green meadow, depicting an urgent command for a group to move quickly.

Examples

¡Corran, niños! ¡El autobús se va!

Hurry up, kids! The bus is leaving!

¡Corran! El tren sale en cinco minutos.

Run! The train leaves in five minutes.

Señores, corran a la farmacia antes de que cierre.

Gentlemen, run to the pharmacy before it closes.

Formal Group Command

This form, 'corran,' is used when you are telling a group of people ('ustedes') what to do. It sounds polite, even when giving a strong order.

AR vs. ER/IR Commands

For '-er' verbs like 'correr,' the command form for 'ustedes' ends in '-an.' (Compare: Hablar -> Hablen; Comer -> Coman; Correr -> Corran.)

Using the wrong group command

Mistake:Using 'corren' (the normal present tense) for a command: '¡Corren a la salida!'

Correction: Use the command form: '¡Corran a la salida!' The command form is always different from the normal descriptive present tense.

Choosing Between 'Apúrate' and 'Date Prisa'

Learners often confuse 'apúrate' and 'date prisa' as they are both very common. While 'apúrate' is a direct, informal command, 'date prisa' is a set phrase that often feels slightly more urgent or formal and is always used with 'prisa'.

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