Fast in Different Languages
Discover 'Fast' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'fast' holds a significant place in our vocabulary, denoting speed or swiftness in English. But did you know that it also has cultural importance in various religions, where fasting is practiced as a form of worship or purification? This highlights the diversity of human experience and the many ways we express ourselves across cultures.
Moreover, understanding the translation of 'fast' in different languages can be fascinating and useful. For instance, in Spanish, 'fast' translates to 'rápido', while in French, it's 'rapide'. In German, it's 'schnell', and in Japanese, it's 'hayai'. These translations not only help in language learning but also provide insights into the unique sound systems and grammatical structures of different languages.
So, whether you're a language learner, a culture enthusiast, or just curious, exploring the word 'fast' in various languages can be a rewarding journey. Keep reading to discover more translations and fascinating facts about this common yet intriguing word.
Fast
Fast in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | vinnig | ||
| "Vinnig" can also refer to someone who is quick-witted or clever. | |||
| Amharic | በፍጥነት | ||
| The word "በፍጥነት" can also mean "quickly" or "promptly" in Amharic. | |||
| Hausa | azumi | ||
| In older times, the Hausa word 'azumi' meant only 'to run or do something quickly' and wasn't connected to observing a fast as it is now. | |||
| Igbo | ngwa ngwa | ||
| "Ngwa ngwa" also refers to a traditional Igbo percussion instrument similar to the talking drum. | |||
| Malagasy | fifadian-kanina | ||
| The word "fifadian-kanina" also means "to race" in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mofulumira | ||
| In Nyanja, 'Mofulumira' also means being sharp or pointed in a figurative sense, as in "a sharp mind". | |||
| Shona | kutsanya | ||
| The word "kutsanya" can also refer to a period of abstinence from food and drink for religious or spiritual purposes. | |||
| Somali | soon | ||
| In Somali, "soon" can also refer to the concept of "fasting" in a religious context. | |||
| Sesotho | ka potlako | ||
| The Sesotho word "ka potlako" can be used to refer to both movement and temperature. | |||
| Swahili | haraka | ||
| In Swahili, 'haraka' also refers to speed, movement, or a sense of urgency. | |||
| Xhosa | ngokukhawuleza | ||
| Ngolukhuni is a derivative of the root word 'goqa' which means hurry or make haste. | |||
| Yoruba | sare | ||
| The Yoruba word "sare" also refers to the act of running or fleeing. | |||
| Zulu | ngokushesha | ||
| The Zulu word "ngokushesha" also means "quickly" or "with urgency". | |||
| Bambara | teliman | ||
| Ewe | kabakaba | ||
| Kinyarwanda | byihuse | ||
| Lingala | noki | ||
| Luganda | okusiiba | ||
| Sepedi | potlako | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ntɛm | ||
Fast in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | بسرعة | ||
| The word 'بسرعة' is derived from the root 'ب س ر,' meaning to hasten or speed up. | |||
| Hebrew | מָהִיר | ||
| The word "מָהִיר" can also mean "skilled" or "clever" in Hebrew. | |||
| Pashto | ګړندی | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "fast," "ګړندی" can also mean "swift" or "in a short amount of time." | |||
| Arabic | بسرعة | ||
| The word 'بسرعة' is derived from the root 'ب س ر,' meaning to hasten or speed up. | |||
Fast in Western European Languages
| Albanian | i shpejtë | ||
| "Shpejtë" also means "soon", "in a little while" and "at once" in Albanian. | |||
| Basque | azkarra | ||
| The Basque word 'azkarra' is also used to describe someone who is quick-witted or intelligent. | |||
| Catalan | ràpid | ||
| "Ràpid" shares its etymological origin with "rapt" and "rapture", but in Catalan it conveys the idea of speed rather than ecstasy. | |||
| Croatian | brzo | ||
| Croatian "brzo" and Latin "brevis" and Greek "βραχύς" are likely all descended from the Proto-Indo-European root "*bʰreg̑ʰ- "short, quick". | |||
| Danish | hurtig | ||
| The word "hurtig" is of Old Norse origin and also means "to hurry". | |||
| Dutch | snel | ||
| The word "snel" in Dutch can also refer to a type of fishing net or a type of horse breed. | |||
| English | fast | ||
| The word 'fast' is related to the Proto-Germanic word 'fastan,' meaning 'to hold firm' or 'to keep' and the Latin word 'fastus,' meaning 'proud' | |||
| French | vite | ||
| The word "vite" derives from the Old French "vite," itself from the Latin "vita" meaning "life." | |||
| Frisian | fluch | ||
| The Frisian word "fluch" also means "flow" in English. | |||
| Galician | rápido | ||
| In Galician, "rápido" can also mean "immediately" or "in a hurry". | |||
| German | schnell | ||
| The word "schnell" is related to the Middle Dutch word "snel" (quick, sharp) and the Old English word "snell" (alert, active). | |||
| Icelandic | hratt | ||
| In Icelandic, "hratt" can also mean "quickly". | |||
| Irish | go tapa | ||
| Go tapa also means "go quickly" or "go immediately" in Irish. | |||
| Italian | veloce | ||
| Veloce, meaning "fast" in Italian, derives from the Latin vēlōx, which can also mean "swift" or "nimble". | |||
| Luxembourgish | séier | ||
| Maltese | mgħaġġel | ||
| "Mgħaġġel" also means "clever" due to a folk etymology, which is based on the assumption that the word derives from Arabic "mūʿaǧǧel" (meaning "hurried") rather than from its true etymology, Maltese "ggaġġla" (meaning "to hurry"). | |||
| Norwegian | fort | ||
| "Fort" in Norwegian can also mean "gone", "away" or "out of stock". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | velozes | ||
| In Latin, "velozes" means "swift" and also "volatile". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | luath | ||
| Luath is thought to share a common ancestor with the Welsh adjective llyd 'fast', which originally meant 'smooth'. | |||
| Spanish | rápido | ||
| 'Rápido' comes from the Latin word 'rapidus' meaning 'sudden', which can refer not only to speed but also to changes in temperature or weather. | |||
| Swedish | snabb | ||
| "Snabb" originally referred to someone who was quick-witted or clever, rather than physically fast. | |||
| Welsh | yn gyflym | ||
| The word "yn gyflym" can also mean "suddenly" or "quickly" in Welsh. | |||
Fast in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | хутка | ||
| The Belarusian word "хутка" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *xǫtkъ, and also has the meaning of "hurriedly," "urgently," and "swiftly." | |||
| Bosnian | brzo | ||
| The word "brzo" can also mean "quickly" or "hurriedly" in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | бърз | ||
| The word "бърз" in Bulgarian is also used poetically to describe beauty, grace, or agility. | |||
| Czech | rychle | ||
| The word "rychle" has its roots in the Old Slavonic "rychly" which means "quickly" or "at once". | |||
| Estonian | kiiresti | ||
| The Estonian word “kiiresti” can also mean “speedily” or “promptly”. | |||
| Finnish | nopeasti | ||
| "Nopeasti" shares its origin with "notkea" ('agile'), "nopeus" ('speed') and "nipsu" ('smart'). | |||
| Hungarian | gyors | ||
| "Gyors" in Hungarian also means "hurried" or "hasty". | |||
| Latvian | ātri | ||
| "Ātri" originally meant "strong" or "capable," but also "bold" or "daring." | |||
| Lithuanian | greitas | ||
| Lithuanian "greitas" also means "hot" or "sharp". | |||
| Macedonian | брз | ||
| Брз (brz) is also used to describe something as being 'bright' or 'clear', such as water or light. | |||
| Polish | szybki | ||
| In Polish, "szybki" also means "quick" as in "witty" or "agile". | |||
| Romanian | rapid | ||
| The word "rapid" in Romanian means "fast" but comes from the Slavic word "rapido" which means "violent". | |||
| Russian | быстрый | ||
| The word "быстрый" can also mean "rapid" or "sharp". | |||
| Serbian | брзо | ||
| The root of the word "brz" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "bystrъ", which meant "rapid", "fierce" or "eager". | |||
| Slovak | rýchlo | ||
| The word "rýchlo" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "*rychъ", which also meant "to run" or "to go quickly." | |||
| Slovenian | hitro | ||
| The word "hitro" also means "quick" or "agile" in Slovenian. | |||
| Ukrainian | швидко | ||
| The word “швидко” comes from the Old Slavic word “быстрый,” which is cognate with the English word “swift”. | |||
Fast in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | দ্রুত | ||
| The Bengali word "দ্রুত" is cognate with the Sanskrit word "द्रुत", meaning "flowing", "quick" or "agile". | |||
| Gujarati | ઝડપી | ||
| ઝડપી is also used to describe someone who is quick-witted or clever. | |||
| Hindi | तेज | ||
| The word "तेज" in Hindi can also mean "sharp" or "bright". | |||
| Kannada | ವೇಗವಾಗಿ | ||
| The word "ವೇಗವಾಗಿ" can also refer to the state of being hurried or impatient | |||
| Malayalam | വേഗത്തിൽ | ||
| In Malayalam, "വേഗത്തിൽ" (vēgaththil) is derived from the Sanskrit "वेगः" (vēga), meaning "speed, quickness, motion". It is also used figuratively to describe a person's character or actions as "fast" or "quick". | |||
| Marathi | वेगवान | ||
| " वेगवान " is the Marathi translation of the English word "fast", used in the context of speed or velocity. | |||
| Nepali | छिटो | ||
| Nepali word "छिटो" also means "a small amount of liquid" or "a pinch of something added to a dish". | |||
| Punjabi | ਤੇਜ਼ | ||
| The word "ਤੇਜ਼" (fast) in Punjabi is derived from the Sanskrit word "तिक्ष्ण" (sharp), which also means "quick" or "fast". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ඉක්මනින් | ||
| The term "ඉක්මනින්" was also historically used in a negative sense, meaning "not properly cooked" | |||
| Tamil | வேகமாக | ||
| The word "வேகமாக" can also mean "quickly" or "hastily" in Tamil. | |||
| Telugu | వేగంగా | ||
| The word "వేగంగా" can also refer to the speed of a person or animal, or the tempo of music. | |||
| Urdu | تیز | ||
| The word "تیز" ("fast") in Urdu can also mean "sharp" or "acute", reflecting its root in the Proto-Indo-European word "*teik-so-" meaning "to cut". | |||
Fast in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 快速 | ||
| "快速" can refer to anything fast, from a speeding car to a high-speed internet connection. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 快速 | ||
| "快速" also refers to a kind of noodle in China. | |||
| Japanese | 速い | ||
| "速い" can also mean "urgent" or "hasty". | |||
| Korean | 빠른 | ||
| "빠른" can also refer to quick-wittedness or cleverness. | |||
| Mongolian | хурдан | ||
| The Mongolian word “хурдан” (“fast”) originally meant “to go over a hill,” and is also related to the word “хүүрэх” (“to climb”). | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အစာရှောင် | ||
| In addition to its meaning as a verb or noun referring to the act of abstaining from food or other physical comforts for spiritual improvement or other reasons "fast", also means "fast" as in swiftly or rapidly. | |||
Fast in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | cepat | ||
| The word "cepat" in Indonesian may also mean "eager" or "impatient." | |||
| Javanese | cepet | ||
| In Javanese, 'cepet' (fast) is also used to describe someone who is agile, nimble, or quick-witted. | |||
| Khmer | លឿន | ||
| "លឿន" also means "skillful" and derives from the Sanskrit word "laghu". | |||
| Lao | ໄວ | ||
| The word "ໄວ" can also mean "soon" or "early" in Lao. | |||
| Malay | pantas | ||
| The word "pantas" can also mean "appropriate" or "fitting" in certain contexts, implying a harmonious alignment or suitability. | |||
| Thai | เร็ว | ||
| The word "เร็ว" can also mean "quickly" or "early" in Thai. | |||
| Vietnamese | nhanh | ||
| Nhanh can also mean "quick" or "agile," and its antonym is "cham" (slow). | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | mabilis | ||
Fast in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | sürətli | ||
| "Sürətli" can also mean "brave" or "valiant" in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | жылдам | ||
| The Kazakh word "жылдам" can also mean "quick-witted" or "agile". | |||
| Kyrgyz | тез | ||
| "Тез" also means "ready" or "prepared". | |||
| Tajik | зуд | ||
| "Зуд" also means "itches" as a noun and "itch" as a verb (i.e.: "зуд иметь" = "to itch") in Russian. | |||
| Turkmen | çalt | ||
| Uzbek | tez | ||
| The word "tez" in Uzbek can also refer to "strong" or "sharp". | |||
| Uyghur | تېز | ||
Fast in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | wikiwiki | ||
| Wikiwiki also refers to the interweaving of fingers, as in a game of 'cat's cradle,' and to a bundle of leaves or feathers worn by hula dancers around their ankles. | |||
| Maori | tere | ||
| The word "tere" in Maori also carries meanings of "escape" and "travel". | |||
| Samoan | vave | ||
| "Vave" is derived from the Proto-Polynesian word *vāve* meaning "to hasten." | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | mabilis | ||
| The Tagalog word 'mabilis' also means 'quick' or 'prompt' in English. | |||
Fast in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jank'aki | ||
| Guarani | pya'e | ||
Fast in International Languages
| Esperanto | rapida | ||
| The word 'rapida' also means 'rapid' in Latin, though it is more likely derived from Italian 'rapido'. | |||
| Latin | celer | ||
| "Celer" also means "noble" or "celebrated" in Latin. | |||
Fast in Others Languages
| Greek | γρήγορα | ||
| The Greek word "γρήγορα" can also mean "quickly" or "in a hurry" and shares the etymology with the Ancient Greek verb "ἀγείρω" which means "to gather". | |||
| Hmong | ceev | ||
| Ceev is a compound word that comes from the words “caaj” (foot) and “ev” (step), so it literally means “to step on the foot”. | |||
| Kurdish | zû | ||
| The Kurdish word "zû" also means "nimble", "rapid", or "agile". | |||
| Turkish | hızlı | ||
| The word "hızlı" can also mean "smart" or "skillful" in Turkish. | |||
| Xhosa | ngokukhawuleza | ||
| Ngolukhuni is a derivative of the root word 'goqa' which means hurry or make haste. | |||
| Yiddish | שנעל | ||
| The Yiddish word "שנעל" (shnel) also means "quick" or "rapid" in German, where it originates. | |||
| Zulu | ngokushesha | ||
| The Zulu word "ngokushesha" also means "quickly" or "with urgency". | |||
| Assamese | বেগাই | ||
| Aymara | jank'aki | ||
| Bhojpuri | तेज | ||
| Dhivehi | އަވަސް | ||
| Dogri | तेज | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | mabilis | ||
| Guarani | pya'e | ||
| Ilocano | napartak | ||
| Krio | kwik | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | خێرا | ||
| Maithili | तेज | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯊꯨꯅ | ||
| Mizo | chak | ||
| Oromo | ariifataa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଦ୍ରୁତ | ||
| Quechua | utqay | ||
| Sanskrit | उपवासः | ||
| Tatar | тиз | ||
| Tigrinya | ቅልጡፍ | ||
| Tsonga | xihatla | ||