urgente

Urgente is an adjective used in several Romance languages, most notably Spanish and Portuguese, to describe something that requires immediate attention or action. It is commonly applied to situations, requests, or conditions that are high priority or time-sensitive. Examples include phrases such as a "situación urgente" in Spanish or "atendimento urgente" in Portuguese, and it can modify both objects and events.

In medical and public administration contexts, urgente often signals the need for prompt response. In Portuguese, the related noun "urgência" denotes the state or quality of being urgent, while "emergência" refers to an emergency situation that demands immediate, often life-saving intervention. In Spanish, similar distinctions exist, with "urgente" used to label pressing cases or tasks.

Etymologically, urgente derives from the Latin verb urgere, meaning to press or push. The word spread through the Romance language family with similar forms and meanings. Cognate terms include Italian urgente and French urgent, and in English the related word is urgent, sharing the same Latin root.

Beyond medical and logistical use, urgente can describe any matter that cannot be postponed. While closely related to synonyms like apremiante or prioritario, urgente emphasizes the immediacy of needed action rather than only importance. The term is widely understood across Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities and in multilingual contexts involving Romance languages.