How to Say “Hurry up” in Spanish Naturally

Introduction

Learning to say hurry up in Spanish goes far beyond memorizing a single translation. Spanish speakers across different countries use various expressions depending on the context, level of urgency, and their relationship with the person they’re addressing. This guide will walk you through the most natural and commonly used ways to express urgency in Spanish-speaking environments.

The Most Common Way to Say Hurry Up in Spanish

The standard translation for hurry up in Spanish is apúrate, which comes from the reflexive verb apurarse. This is the form you’ll hear most frequently in Latin American countries like Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Central America. When you want someone to move faster or complete a task more quickly, apúrate is your go-to expression.

For example:
Apúrate, vamos a llegar tarde. (Hurry up, we’re going to be late.)
Apúrate con la tarea. (Hurry up with the homework.)

In Spain, however, you’ll more commonly hear date prisa, which literally means give yourself hurry. This phrase functions identically to apúrate but is the preferred form in European Spanish. Understanding this regional difference will help you sound more natural depending on where you’re speaking Spanish.

Date prisa o perderemos el tren. (Hurry up or we’ll miss the train.)
Date prisa, que ya es tarde. (Hurry up, it’s already late.)

Adjusting Formality: Using Usted Forms

When speaking to someone you need to address formally, such as an older person, a stranger, or someone in a position of authority, you’ll need to modify these expressions. The formal version of apúrate is apúrese, and for date prisa, you would say dese prisa.

Por favor, apúrese, señor. (Please hurry up, sir.)
Dese prisa, por favor. (Hurry up, please.)

Adding por favor (please) softens the command and makes it more polite, which is especially important in formal contexts where directness might seem rude.

Casual and Colloquial Expressions

Ándale and Its Variations

In Mexico and parts of Central America, ándale is an extremely common way to say hurry up, come on, or let’s go. This versatile expression comes from the verb andar (to walk) and carries a friendly, encouraging tone. It’s less forceful than apúrate and often implies teamwork or shared urgency.

Ándale, ya casi terminamos. (Come on, we’re almost done.)
Ándale, que se hace tarde. (Hurry up, it’s getting late.)

You might also hear ándele (the formal version) or even playful repetitions like ándale, ándale for extra emphasis.

Apresúrate: A Slightly Stronger Alternative

The verb apresurarse means to hasten or rush, and its command form apresúrate carries a slightly more urgent or serious tone than apúrate. While both are acceptable, apresúrate might be used when the situation is more pressing.

Apresúrate, necesitamos salir ahora mismo. (Hurry up, we need to leave right now.)
Apresúrate antes de que cierren. (Hurry up before they close.)

Muévete: Get Moving

For a more direct and physical expression, muévete literally means move yourself. This comes from the verb moverse and is particularly useful when you want someone to physically move faster or stop dawdling.

Muévete, no tenemos todo el día. (Get moving, we don’t have all day.)
Muévete más rápido. (Move faster.)

This expression can sound a bit harsh if not used with the right tone, so it’s best reserved for informal situations with friends or family.

Regional Variations Across Spanish-Speaking Countries

Spain’s Unique Expressions

Beyond date prisa, Spaniards use several other colorful expressions. Venga, which literally means come, is used similarly to come on in English and can mean hurry up depending on context.

Venga, que llegamos tarde. (Come on, we’re arriving late.)
Venga, va. (Come on, let’s go.)

Another uniquely Spanish expression is espabila or espabílate, which comes from the verb espabilar meaning to wake up or smarten up. It implies someone should snap out of their slowness.

Argentine and Uruguayan Spanish

In Argentina and Uruguay, where the vos form is used instead of tú, you’ll hear apurate (without the accent) instead of apúrate. The pronunciation and usage remain similar, but the conjugation reflects the regional grammar.

Apurate, boludo, que se nos hace tarde. (Hurry up, dude, we’re running late.)

Caribbean Spanish Variations

In Caribbean countries like Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, you might hear corre (run) used colloquially to mean hurry up, especially among younger speakers or in very casual settings.

Corre, que el guagua ya viene. (Hurry up, the bus is coming.)

Adding Emphasis and Urgency

When you need to convey even more urgency, Spanish offers several ways to intensify your message. Adding ya (already or now) before or after the command creates immediate urgency.

Ya, apúrate. (Hurry up now.)
Apúrate ya. (Hurry up already.)

You can also add adverbs like rápido (fast) or phrases that explain why speed is necessary:

Apúrate rápido. (Hurry up quickly.)
Date prisa, que vamos tarde. (Hurry up, we’re running late.)
Apúrate o lo perdemos. (Hurry up or we’ll miss it.)

Softer, More Polite Ways to Encourage Speed

Not every situation calls for a direct command. Sometimes you need to encourage someone to move faster without sounding bossy. In these cases, try using questions or suggestions instead of commands.

¿Podemos apurarnos un poco? (Can we hurry up a bit?)
¿Te podrías apurar? (Could you hurry up?)
Sería bueno darnos prisa. (It would be good to hurry up.)

These constructions maintain politeness while still communicating the need for speed, making them perfect for professional settings or situations where you want to be diplomatic.

Cultural Context and Usage Tips

Understanding when and how to use these expressions requires cultural awareness beyond just knowing the words. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, time is viewed more flexibly than in some English-speaking countries, so the concept of rushing carries different weight.

When traveling or living in Spanish-speaking countries, pay attention to how locals use these expressions. In some contexts, repeatedly telling someone to hurry up might be considered rude or stressful, while in others it’s perfectly normal and friendly.

The relationship between speakers also matters significantly. With close friends and family, you can use more direct or even playful commands. With acquaintances or in professional settings, softer approaches or the usted form show appropriate respect.

Tone of voice plays a crucial role too. The same phrase can sound encouraging and supportive or harsh and demanding depending entirely on how you say it. When learning, listen to native speakers and try to mimic not just their words but their intonation and emotion.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One frequent error English speakers make is directly translating hurry up as date prisa arriba or apúrate arriba, thinking the up needs translation. In Spanish, the up is already implied in the verb form, so adding arriba is incorrect and will sound strange.

Another mistake is using the wrong verb form for your audience. Mixing tú and usted forms inappropriately can create confusion or offense. Always match your formality level to the social context.

Finally, be careful not to overuse these expressions. Constantly rushing people can create stress and damage relationships, just as it would in English-speaking contexts.

Practical Scenarios and Examples

To help you internalize these expressions, here are some common real-life scenarios where you might need to tell someone to hurry up:

At home with family:
Apúrate con el desayuno, que llegas tarde a la escuela. (Hurry up with breakfast, you’ll be late for school.)

Catching transportation:
Date prisa, que el metro está por salir. (Hurry up, the subway is about to leave.)

At work (formal):
Disculpe, pero necesitaríamos que se apresure con el informe. (Excuse me, but we would need you to hurry up with the report.)

With friends going out:
Ándale, todos están esperando. (Come on, everyone is waiting.)

Shopping before closing time:
Apúrate a elegir, van a cerrar en cinco minutos. (Hurry up and choose, they’re closing in five minutes.)

Conclusion

Mastering the various ways to say hurry up in Spanish will make your conversations more natural and culturally appropriate. Whether you choose apúrate in Latin America, date prisa in Spain, or regional variations like ándale, the key is understanding context, formality, and cultural nuances. Practice these expressions in real situations, pay attention to how native speakers use them, and you’ll soon find yourself communicating urgency as naturally as a native Spanish speaker.