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How to Say "impulsive" in Spanish

English → Spanish

impulsivo

/eem-pool-SEE-boh//im.pul.ˈsi.βo/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'impulsivo' when describing someone who acts on sudden desires or feelings without thinking about the consequences, a general term for being impulsive.
A child jumping into a puddle of water with a big splash, without hesitation.

Examples

No seas impulsivo, piénsalo bien antes de comprar ese coche.

Don't be impulsive, think it over before buying that car.

Ella tomó una decisión impulsiva y renunció a su trabajo.

She made an impulsive decision and quit her job.

Su comportamiento impulsivo a veces le causa problemas con sus amigos.

His impulsive behavior sometimes causes him trouble with his friends.

Matching the Gender

In Spanish, describing words like this change their ending. Use 'impulsivo' for men or masculine items, and change it to 'impulsiva' for women or feminine items.

Where to put the word

Usually, this word comes after the thing it describes. For example, 'una decisión impulsiva' (a decision impulsive).

Confusing 'Impulsive' with 'Compulsive'

Mistake: “Soy muy compulsivo, siempre compro cosas sin pensar.”

Correction: Soy muy impulsivo, siempre compro cosas sin pensar. 'Impulsivo' is about acting on a sudden urge, while 'compulsivo' implies a repetitive, hard-to-stop behavior.

apresurado

/ah-preh-soo-RAH-doh//apɾesuˈɾaðo/

adjectiveB2general
Use 'apresurado' when the impulsiveness stems from acting too quickly or in a rushed manner, emphasizing the haste involved in the decision or action.
A person about to jump into a deep puddle without checking how deep it is first.

Examples

No seas apresurado, piénsalo bien antes de comprar el coche.

Don't be rash; think it over well before buying the car.

Fue una conclusión apresurada sin tener todas las pruebas.

It was a hasty conclusion without having all the evidence.

Su juicio apresurado lastimó los sentimientos de su amigo.

His impulsive judgment hurt his friend's feelings.

Describing Decisions

When describing a 'decision' (feminine), always use 'apresurada'. Even if a man made the decision, the word must match the thing it describes.

Overusing the word

Mistake: “Saying 'soy apresurado' to mean 'I am in a hurry'.”

Correction: Say 'tengo prisa' for 'I am in a hurry'. Use 'apresurado' to describe the way you are acting or your personality.

Choosing Between 'Impulsivo' and 'Apresurado'

Learners often confuse 'impulsivo' and 'apresurado'. While both mean acting without thinking, 'impulsivo' focuses on the sudden urge or lack of forethought, whereas 'apresurado' highlights the speed and haste of the action.

Related Translations

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