Inklingo

How to Say "rush" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “rush” is “prisa” — use 'tener prisa' to express the general feeling of being hurried or needing to move quickly, often due to a lack of time..

English → Spanish

prisa

/PREE-sah//ˈpɾisa/

nounA1general
Use 'tener prisa' to express the general feeling of being hurried or needing to move quickly, often due to a lack of time.
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.

apúrense

verbA2general
Use 'apúrense' as an imperative command directed at a group (ustedes form) to tell them to hurry up and finish something quickly.

Examples

¡Apúrense, que el tren ya se va!

Hurry up, the train is leaving!

adrenalina

/ah-dre-nah-LEE-nah//aðɾenaˈlina/

nounB1general
Use 'subidón de adrenalina' to describe the physical and emotional feeling of intense excitement or thrill, often associated with adrenaline.
A person with wide eyes and a huge smile riding a fast roller coaster with their hands in the air.

Examples

Me encanta el subidón de adrenalina de las montañas rusas.

I love the adrenaline rush of roller coasters.

Hacer paracaidismo es pura adrenalina.

Skydiving is pure adrenaline/excitement.

Using 'Pura'

When you want to say something is 'pure excitement,' you say 'es pura adrenalina.' Since the word is feminine, 'puro' must change to 'pura'.

punta

/POON-tah//ˈpunta/

nounB2general
Use 'hora punta' specifically to refer to 'rush hour', the busiest times of day for traffic.
A simple, stylized illustration of a very tall, snow-capped mountain peak rising sharply against a blue sky.

Examples

El tráfico es terrible en hora punta.

Traffic is terrible during rush hour.

Los precios están en punta durante el verano.

Prices are at their peak during the summer.

The 'Rush Hour' Phrase

When talking about rush hour, Spanish uses the phrase 'hora punta' (literally 'point hour'), which is the most common use of this meaning.

avenida

ah-veh-NEE-dah/aβeˈniða/

nounC1formal
Use 'avenida' to describe a sudden, powerful flow or surge of a liquid, like water, often with destructive force.
A dynamic illustration showing a sudden, forceful wave of blue water surging forward rapidly.

Examples

Tras el deshielo, hubo una avenida de agua que arrasó el valle.

After the thaw, there was a rush of water that swept through the valley.

Prisa vs. Apúrense

Learners often confuse 'prisa' (a noun meaning 'hurry' or 'rush' as a state) with 'apúrense' (a verb command meaning 'hurry up!'). Remember that 'prisa' describes the feeling or condition of being rushed, while 'apúrense' is an action-oriented command directed at others.

Related Translations

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