apúrate

Apúrate is the second-person singular informal imperative form of the Spanish verb apurarse, meaning to hurry up or to move more quickly. It is commonly used to urge someone to accelerate their actions or response in everyday speech, and can stand alone as a direct command or be softened with por favor.

Usage and forms vary by formality and number. In polite or formal situations, the form is apúrese (usted). For the plural familiar form in Spain, apuraos (vosotros) is used; for formal or plural ustedes, apúrense. The phrase can be intensified with ya or ¡Ya! as in ¡Apúrate ya! and is often preceded by a courteous modifier such as “por favor.”

Nuances and related expressions. While apurarse literally conveys the act of hurrying, it can also imply becoming anxious about time or the situation. The corresponding imperative with a negative or reassuring sense is no te apures, which in many contexts means “don’t worry” or “calm down.” In many Spanish-speaking regions, synonyms like date prisa or dá prisa are more common in informal speech, though apúrate remains widely understood and frequently used.

Etymology and scope. Apúrate derives from the verb apurar, which encompasses several senses related to expediting, exhausting, or intensifying a process. As a common command across Spanish dialects, apúrate appears in both casual conversation and informal writing, reflecting a universal need to accelerate actions or responses.

See also: prisa, date prisa, no te apures, apurarse.