rapidement

Rapidement is a French adverb meaning "quickly" or "rapidly." It modifies a verb to express the speed or manner of an action. The word is neutral in tone and widely used in both spoken and written French.

Formation and etymology: It is formed from the adjective rapide ("fast") plus the adverbial suffix -ment. Like other -ment adverbs (lentement, patiemment), rapidement follows regular French patterns. The base adjective rapide derives from Latin rapidus, meaning swift; the same lineage is evident in English "rapid." The adverb does not vary for gender or number.

Usage: Rapidement typically follows the verb it modifies, as in Il court rapidement or Elle a répondu rapidement. It can also modify a larger verbal group or appear near the beginning of a clause for emphasis in some styles. In nuance, rapidement conveys a sense of measured speed or efficiency, while vite is more informal and often conveys immediacy.

Notes: In formal writing, the choice between rapidement and other adverbs may reflect desired tone. Rapidement is common in news, academic, and professional contexts when a precise or procedural sense of speed is intended.