Introduction
Learning how to express urgency is essential for everyday communication in Spanish. Whether you need someone to move faster, want to encourage a friend who is running late, or simply need to convey that time is running short, knowing the right phrases can make all the difference in your conversations with native speakers.
The Most Common Way: Darse Prisa
The most standard and widely accepted way to tell someone to hurry up in Spanish is using the reflexive verb darse prisa. This phrase literally translates to to give oneself hurry but functions as the equivalent of to hurry up in English.
When you want to tell someone directly to hurry up, you would use the imperative form: ¡Date prisa! This is the informal singular command, perfect for friends, family members, or people younger than you.
Example: ¡Date prisa o llegaremos tarde! (Hurry up or we’ll be late!)
For formal situations or when addressing someone you should show respect to, use ¡Dese prisa! instead.
Example: Señor González, dese prisa, por favor. La reunión comienza en cinco minutos. (Mr. González, please hurry up. The meeting starts in five minutes.)
When speaking to multiple people, the plural forms come into play. Use ¡Daos prisa! for informal groups in Spain, or ¡Dense prisa! for formal groups or in Latin America.
Example: Chicos, daos prisa, el autobús está por salir. (Guys, hurry up, the bus is about to leave.)
The Quick Alternative: Apúrate
Particularly popular in Latin America, apurarse is another reflexive verb meaning to hurry up. Many Spanish learners find this verb easier to conjugate and remember than darse prisa.
The informal command is simply ¡Apúrate!, which you’ll hear frequently in countries like Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and throughout Central America.
Example: ¡Apúrate, que se enfría la comida! (Hurry up, the food is getting cold!)
The formal version is ¡Apúrese!, maintaining the polite register while still conveying urgency.
Example: Apúrese, señora, el tren sale en tres minutos. (Hurry up, ma’am, the train leaves in three minutes.)
For groups, use ¡Apúrense! when telling multiple people to speed things up.
Example: Apúrense, niños, ya es hora de ir a la escuela. (Hurry up, kids, it’s time to go to school.)
Regional Preferences
While both darse prisa and apurarse are understood across the Spanish-speaking world, preferences vary by region. In Spain, darse prisa is more commonly heard, whereas in most Latin American countries, apurarse tends to be the go-to choice. Understanding these regional differences will help you sound more natural wherever your Spanish takes you.
Informal and Colloquial Expressions
Native speakers often use more casual expressions when speaking with friends or in relaxed settings. These phrases add color and authenticity to your Spanish.
¡Ándale! and ¡Órale!
In Mexico, ¡Ándale! is an incredibly versatile expression that can mean hurry up, come on, or that’s right, depending on context and tone. When urging someone to move faster, it carries a friendly, encouraging vibe.
Example: ¡Ándale, ándale! ¡Nos están esperando! (Come on, hurry up! They’re waiting for us!)
Similarly, ¡Órale! is another Mexican expression that can mean hurry up or serve as an exclamation of surprise or agreement. The context and intonation make all the difference.
Example: ¡Órale, güey, ya vámonos! (Come on, dude, let’s go already!)
¡Apresúrate!
The verb apresurarse offers yet another way to express urgency. While slightly more formal than apurarse, it remains widely understood and used across Spanish-speaking regions.
The command form ¡Apresúrate! works well in situations requiring a bit more seriousness or formality than casual slang would provide.
Example: Apresúrate a terminar ese informe. (Hurry up and finish that report.)
¡Rápido!
Sometimes the simplest approach works best. ¡Rápido! means quick or fast and serves as a straightforward command to speed things up. This word is universally understood and requires no verb conjugation.
Example: ¡Rápido, rápido, que no tenemos tiempo! (Quick, quick, we don’t have time!)
Example: ¡Más rápido! (Faster!)
Phrases for Specific Situations
Different contexts call for different expressions. Here are some targeted phrases that native speakers use in particular situations.
When Time Is Running Out
When emphasizing that time is limited, these phrases add urgency to your message:
¡Date prisa, que se nos hace tarde! (Hurry up, we’re running late!)
¡Apúrate, que no hay tiempo! (Hurry up, there’s no time!)
¡Ya es tarde, apresúrate! (It’s already late, hurry up!)
Encouraging Someone Who Is Slow
Sometimes you need a gentler approach when someone is moving slowly:
Vamos, date prisa un poco. (Come on, hurry up a little.)
Anda, apúrate un poquito. (Go on, hurry up a little bit.)
A ver si te apuras. (Let’s see if you can hurry up.)
In Emergency Situations
When genuine urgency or an emergency requires immediate action, these stronger expressions convey the seriousness:
¡Corre! (Run!)
¡Date prisa, es urgente! (Hurry up, it’s urgent!)
¡Rápido, no hay tiempo que perder! (Quick, there’s no time to lose!)
Cultural Considerations
Understanding cultural context helps you use these phrases appropriately. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, particularly in Latin America, rushing people is sometimes considered rude or pushy. The concept of mañana (tomorrow) reflects a more relaxed attitude toward time in some regions.
When traveling or communicating with native speakers, pay attention to how urgency is expressed locally. In business settings in major cities like Madrid, Mexico City, or Buenos Aires, punctuality and speed matter more than in rural or coastal areas where life moves at a gentler pace.
Adding por favor (please) softens your command and shows respect:
Date prisa, por favor. (Hurry up, please.)
Apúrese, por favor. (Please hurry up.)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Learners often make errors when using these expressions. Here are some pitfalls to watch out for:
Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun
Remember that darse prisa and apurarse are reflexive verbs. You cannot simply say ¡Da prisa! or ¡Apura! without the reflexive pronoun. Always include te, se, os, or se depending on who you’re addressing.
Mixing Formal and Informal
Stay consistent with your level of formality. Don’t mix date prisa (informal) with usted (formal you), or vice versa. Match your verb form to the appropriate pronoun.
Overusing Urgent Expressions
Reserve truly urgent commands for situations that warrant them. Constantly telling people to hurry can come across as aggressive or disrespectful, particularly in cultures that value a more relaxed pace.
Practice Makes Perfect
To master these expressions, practice using them in context. Try creating sentences about your daily routine:
Me doy prisa por las mañanas. (I hurry up in the mornings.)
Mi hermano nunca se apura. (My brother never hurries up.)
Tenemos que apresurarnos. (We have to hurry up.)
Listen to native speakers in movies, shows, or podcasts and note when and how they use these phrases. Pay attention to their tone, context, and the reactions they receive. This real-world exposure will help you develop an intuitive sense of when each expression fits best.
Conclusion
Mastering how to say hurry up in Spanish opens up natural, fluid communication in countless everyday situations. From the standard darse prisa to the popular Latin American apurarse, and the casual ándale or simple rápido, you now have a complete toolkit for expressing urgency appropriately across different contexts and Spanish-speaking regions.
