rápidamente

Rápidamente is a Spanish adverb meaning “in a rapid way” or “quickly.” It is used to describe the manner in which an action is performed and typically modifies a verb, as in Corre rápidamente (he runs quickly) or Habla rápidamente (he/she speaks quickly). In natural Spanish, adverbs formed with -mente often follow the verb, though placement can vary for emphasis or rhythm.

Formation and etymology: Rápidamente is formed by adding the suffix -mente to the adjective rápido. The adjective rápido comes from Latin rapidus meaning swift, and the adverbial form follows a common Romance-language pattern for turning adjectives into adverbs.

Usage notes: Rápidamente emphasizes speed or rapidity rather than urgency alone. It can refer to movement, speech, writing, or processes, and is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. In contexts where the nuance is more about urgency or timing, other expressions such as de prisa or con rapidez may be used as alternatives.

Orthography and pronunciation: The word carries an accent on the first syllable, reflecting its origin from rápido. It is pronounced with the stress on the initial syllable, and the remaining syllables follow the standard Spanish word-stress rules.

See also: rápido, de prisa, pronto, apresuradamente, lentamente.