Quick in Different Languages
Discover 'Quick' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'quick' is an essential part of our daily vocabulary, denoting speed and efficiency. Its significance extends beyond mere language, as it reflects our cultural emphasis on haste and productivity. But did you know that 'quick' has fascinating translations in various languages?
For instance, in Spanish, 'quick' translates to 'rápido,' which also means 'fast' or 'speedy.' In German, 'quick' becomes 'schnell,' a term that shares roots with the English word 'shining' - reflecting the idea of swiftness as a radiant, positive force. Meanwhile, in Japanese, 'quick' is 'すぐ,' pronounced as 'sugu,' a term that embodies the cultural value of efficiency and promptness in Japanese society.
Exploring the translations of 'quick' in different languages not only enriches our linguistic repertoire but also offers a glimpse into the unique cultural contexts that shape these translations. Join us as we delve into the diverse meanings of 'quick' across the globe.
Quick
Quick in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | vinnig | ||
| The word "vinnig" is the Afrikaans form of "fenig" in Dutch or "finnig" in German, meaning "nimble" or "deft" (as in nimble fingers, or a "fast" and deft movement). | |||
| Amharic | ፈጣን | ||
| The word "ፈጣን" is of Geʽez origin and was borrowed into Amharic | |||
| Hausa | sauri | ||
| The word "sauri" can also refer to "quickly". | |||
| Igbo | ngwa ngwa | ||
| The Igbo word "ngwa ngwa" can also refer to a type of dance or music. | |||
| Malagasy | tsara ho | ||
| The Malagasy word "TSARA HO" can also mean "good" or "well". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mofulumira | ||
| The word 'mofulumira' comes from the verb 'fulumira' which means to move or run quickly. | |||
| Shona | nekukurumidza | ||
| The word "nekukurumidza" in Shona also means "to hasten" or "to hurry up". | |||
| Somali | dhakhso leh | ||
| The term may be a compound derived from "da" (to do something swiftly) and "akhsa" (limp) or "dhekh" (to look), hence "moving fast and slightly unsteady." | |||
| Sesotho | ka potlako | ||
| In Sesotho, "ka potlako" (quick) can also mean hasty or impatient. | |||
| Swahili | haraka | ||
| The Swahili word 'haraka' not only means 'quick', but also refers to a type of traditional African dance. | |||
| Xhosa | ngokukhawuleza | ||
| The word "ngokukhawuleza" is derived from the verb "ukukhawuleza" meaning "to hurry" or "to move quickly". | |||
| Yoruba | iyara | ||
| The word 'iyara,' meaning 'quick' in Yoruba, shares its root with 'iya,' meaning 'mother,' highlighting the association between swiftness and the protective, nurturing nature of mothers. | |||
| Zulu | ngokushesha | ||
| Ngokusesha has an alternate meaning of 'to be eager or enthusiastic' as well as its primary meaning of 'speedy or prompt'. | |||
| Bambara | teliman | ||
| Ewe | kaba | ||
| Kinyarwanda | vuba | ||
| Lingala | noki | ||
| Luganda | mangu | ||
| Sepedi | potlako | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ntɛm | ||
Quick in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | بسرعة | ||
| The word "بسرعة" can also mean "in a hurry" or "hastily". | |||
| Hebrew | מָהִיר | ||
| The Hebrew word "מָהִיר" can also mean "bright" or "shining". | |||
| Pashto | ګړندی | ||
| "ګړندی" can also mean "lively" or "sharp-witted" in Pashto. | |||
| Arabic | بسرعة | ||
| The word "بسرعة" can also mean "in a hurry" or "hastily". | |||
Quick in Western European Languages
| Albanian | i shpejtë | ||
| The Albanian word "i shpejtë" derives from the Proto-Albanian root *shpē-, meaning "to hurry" or "to run." | |||
| Basque | azkarra | ||
| The word "azkarra" possibly comes from the Arabic word "askar" meaning "army" or "soldier", with the ending "-ra" used to refer to a specific member. | |||
| Catalan | ràpid | ||
| "Ràpid" is also an adverb that means "quickly" or "in a fast manner". | |||
| Croatian | brz | ||
| The word "brz" is also used to describe someone who is sharp-tongued or has a sharp wit | |||
| Danish | hurtig | ||
| Hurtig is also a surname, and a toponym for a small island in Norway. | |||
| Dutch | snel | ||
| The Dutch word "snel" can also mean "bald" or "skinny". | |||
| English | quick | ||
| The word 'quick' can also mean 'living' or 'alive', derived from the Old English 'cwic'. | |||
| French | rapide | ||
| "Rapide" in French also means "a shoal or rapid in a river". | |||
| Frisian | gau | ||
| The name of the frisian village Gau originates from the Frisian word “gau” which means: water in the sense of floodplains in the Netherlands. | |||
| Galician | rápido | ||
| In Galician, "rápido" also means "rapidly" or "hastily". | |||
| German | schnell | ||
| "Schnell" is also used to describe a person who is agile or nimble, as in "er ist ein schneller Läufer" (he is a fast runner). | |||
| Icelandic | fljótur | ||
| In Icelandic, "fljótur" not only means "fleeting" or "in a hurry", but also "shallow" or "unwise". | |||
| Irish | sciobtha | ||
| The word "sciobtha" in Irish is cognate with the Latin word "celer" and the Greek word "ταχύς", both meaning "swift" or "quick". | |||
| Italian | presto | ||
| The word "presto" also means "now" or "at once" in Italian. | |||
| Luxembourgish | séier | ||
| The word "séier" is derived from the Germanic root "saiws" meaning "to rush" or "to flow". | |||
| Maltese | malajr | ||
| Malajr is derived from the Arabic word 'malik', meaning 'to possess or own' and is also used to refer to something that is 'ready' or 'available'. | |||
| Norwegian | rask | ||
| "Rask" is also a type of crispbread in Norwegian. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | rápido | ||
| "Rápido": from Latin "rapidus", meaning swift or moving with great speed, or from Latin "rapax", meaning grasping or snatching, and can also refer to the "rapidity of a river" (its swiftness of current). | |||
| Scots Gaelic | sgiobalta | ||
| Sgiobalta can mean either "quick" or "squint-eyed" | |||
| Spanish | rápido | ||
| In some regions of Spain, "rápido" also means "robbery", as a noun. | |||
| Swedish | snabbt | ||
| Snabbt, a word of Old Norse origin, also referred to as "hastigt" and "kvickt" in Swedish, can also translate as "rapid", "hurried", and even "prompt". | |||
| Welsh | cyflym | ||
| The word 'cyflym' also means 'swift' and 'rapid' and perhaps derives from 'cyflymu', 'to set in motion'. | |||
Quick in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | хутка | ||
| The word "хутка" in Belarusian can also refer to a "minute" of time. | |||
| Bosnian | brzo | ||
| Brzo means 'quickly' but can be used to form a compound adjective as well | |||
| Bulgarian | бързо | ||
| Although "бързо" now only means "fast" in Bulgarian, its root in Old Church Slavonic carries the meaning of "sharp" or "keen". | |||
| Czech | rychlý | ||
| The word "rychlý" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *rychъ, meaning "fast" or "swift". | |||
| Estonian | kiire | ||
| The word "kiire" can also mean "tight" or "narrow" in Estonian. | |||
| Finnish | nopea | ||
| The word "nopea" is derived from the Proto-Finnic word "*nopsa", meaning "sharp" or "brisk". | |||
| Hungarian | gyors | ||
| "Gyors" is derived from the Proto-Uralic word *kor, meaning "early" or "at the right time". | |||
| Latvian | ātri | ||
| Ātri is also the archaic Latvian word for "in the morning". | |||
| Lithuanian | greitai | ||
| "Greitai" also means "quickly" in Lithuanian. | |||
| Macedonian | брз | ||
| Брз (quick) comes from Proto-Slavic *bъrzъ meaning "fast" and also refers to an old Slavic god of the wind. | |||
| Polish | szybki | ||
| The word "szybki" can also refer to an electric circuit or a kind of knot in sailing. | |||
| Romanian | rapid | ||
| In Romanian, "rapid" can also mean "river", a usage derived from the Latin "rapidus" (fast-flowing). | |||
| Russian | быстрый | ||
| The Russian word "быстрый" has origins in a Proto-Slavic root and its derivatives can also mean "fierce, cruel, impetuous" | |||
| Serbian | брзо | ||
| The word "брзо" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*br̥zъ", meaning "fast" or "swift." | |||
| Slovak | rýchlo | ||
| The word "rýchlo" is cognate with the English word "rapid" and the German word "rasch". | |||
| Slovenian | hitro | ||
| Cognate with 'hitro(st)av', which can refer to a quick horse, a type of plant with fast growing stalks or an agile person. | |||
| Ukrainian | швидко | ||
| In Ukrainian, "швидко" is also used figuratively to mean "immediately" or "without delay". | |||
Quick in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | দ্রুত | ||
| The word "দ্রুত" is derived from the Sanskrit root "dru" meaning "to run". | |||
| Gujarati | ઝડપી | ||
| The Gujarati word "ઝડપી" can also mean "alert," "clever," or "swift." | |||
| Hindi | शीघ्र | ||
| The word "शीघ्र" in Hindi comes from the Sanskrit root "शीघ्र" which means "quickly, soon" and is related to the word "शीघ्रता" meaning "quickness, speed". | |||
| Kannada | ತ್ವರಿತ | ||
| The alternate meaning of ತ್ವರಿತ is 'excessive' or 'too much'. | |||
| Malayalam | പെട്ടെന്നുള്ള | ||
| The term “പെട്ടെന്നുള്ള” can also refer to something happening unexpectedly and can also be employed in the context of “a sudden jolt.” | |||
| Marathi | द्रुत | ||
| "द्रुत" is derived from the Sanskrit word "druta" meaning "fast" or "quickly", and also means "molten" or "liquid" in a different context. | |||
| Nepali | छिटो | ||
| "छिटो" is cognate with many Indo-Aryan languages including Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, and Gujarati. | |||
| Punjabi | ਤੇਜ਼ | ||
| The word "ਤੇਜ਼" also means "sharp" in Punjabi, reflecting its connection to the concept of cutting through something quickly. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ඉක්මන් | ||
| The word "ඉක්මන්" is also used in the sense of "immediately" or "as soon as possible." | |||
| Tamil | விரைவான | ||
| "விரைவான" is cognate with the Sanskrit term "वेगवान" meaning "quick". | |||
| Telugu | శీఘ్ర | ||
| "శీఘ్ర" is also the name of a raga in Indian classical music, which is known for its fast tempo and lively melody. | |||
| Urdu | جلدی | ||
| The word "جلدی" can also mean "in a hurry" or "impatiently" in Urdu. | |||
Quick in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 快 | ||
| "快" can also mean "happy" or "joyous". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 快 | ||
| The word 快 (quick) can also mean 'happy' or 'comfortable' as in the phrase 一路平安 (have a comfortable journey). | |||
| Japanese | 速い | ||
| 速い derives from the same kanji as the name for "tachometer" (速度計), suggesting its original meaning was likely related to "speed." | |||
| Korean | 빨리 | ||
| 빨리 is a sino-Korean word and is also used to mean 'hurriedly', 'quickly', or 'rashly'. | |||
| Mongolian | хурдан | ||
| The word "хурдан" also means "wind" or "hurricane" in Mongolian. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | မြန်မြန် | ||
Quick in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | cepat | ||
| Cepat is a Proto-Malay word cognate with words for "lightning" in other Southeast Asian languages such as Javanese "chepet" and Thai "chop". | |||
| Javanese | cepet | ||
| "Cepet" can also mean "clever" or "fast learners". | |||
| Khmer | រហ័ស | ||
| Etymology: From Pali "rahaso" meaning "secrete" or "hidden". | |||
| Lao | ໄວ | ||
| The word "ໄວ" is also used as a prefix to indicate frequency, as in "ໄວໆ" (repeatedly), or to indicate urgency, as in "ໄວ" (hurry). | |||
| Malay | cepat | ||
| The Malay word "cepat" also has a derived meaning of "clever" and is related to the word "ceplak", meaning "squint-eyed". | |||
| Thai | รวดเร็ว | ||
| The Thai word "รวดเร็ว" is a compound of "รวด" (meaning "smooth") and "เร็ว" (meaning "fast"). | |||
| Vietnamese | nhanh chóng | ||
| "Nhanh chóng" is a compound word of "Nhanh" (fast) and "Chóng" (urgent). | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | mabilis | ||
Quick in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | cəld | ||
| The word "cəld" also means "sharp" or "keen" in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | жылдам | ||
| The Turkic word "жылдам" is also used in the sense of "fast", "swift", and "agile". | |||
| Kyrgyz | тез | ||
| The word "тез" (quick) comes from the Persian word "tez" meaning sharp or hasty. | |||
| Tajik | зуд | ||
| The Tajik word "зуд" also means "itch" in English. | |||
| Turkmen | çalt | ||
| Uzbek | tez | ||
| The original meaning of “tez” was “sharp” or “fierce”, still visible in many idioms. | |||
| Uyghur | تېز | ||
Quick in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | wikiwiki | ||
| In Hawaiian, "wiki-wiki" not only means "quick" but also describes a type of water conduit. | |||
| Maori | tere | ||
| The word "tere" in Maori also means "to pass" or "to go across". | |||
| Samoan | vave | ||
| The word "vave" in Samoan can also mean "speed" or "hurry". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | mabilis | ||
| The word "mabilis" in Tagalog has an alternate meaning: "easy" or "effortless." | |||
Quick in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jank'aki | ||
| Guarani | pya'e | ||
Quick in International Languages
| Esperanto | rapida | ||
| The word "rapida" is also a form of the verb "rapidi", meaning "to speed up". | |||
| Latin | quick | ||
| The Latin word "vivus" has the additional meaning of "alive" in English. | |||
Quick in Others Languages
| Greek | γρήγορα | ||
| Γρήγορα in Greek comes from the root γρεγορα which means "watch" and is related to words like αγρυπνεία, επιγρηγορα, and εγηρσις. | |||
| Hmong | nrawm | ||
| "Nrawm" in Hmong also refers to the sound of a footstep. | |||
| Kurdish | zû | ||
| "Zû" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*ǵʰéw-/, which also gives rise to words like "swift" and "hurry" in English. | |||
| Turkish | hızlı | ||
| The Turkish word "hızlı" comes from the Arabic root "hrz", meaning "to hurry". | |||
| Xhosa | ngokukhawuleza | ||
| The word "ngokukhawuleza" is derived from the verb "ukukhawuleza" meaning "to hurry" or "to move quickly". | |||
| Yiddish | שנעל | ||
| The word "שנעל" can also refer to a "shoe lace" or "shoe nail" in Yiddish. | |||
| Zulu | ngokushesha | ||
| Ngokusesha has an alternate meaning of 'to be eager or enthusiastic' as well as its primary meaning of 'speedy or prompt'. | |||
| Assamese | দ্ৰুত | ||
| Aymara | jank'aki | ||
| Bhojpuri | झट से | ||
| Dhivehi | އަވަސް | ||
| Dogri | फौरन | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | mabilis | ||
| Guarani | pya'e | ||
| Ilocano | napartak | ||
| Krio | kwik | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | خێرا | ||
| Maithili | जल्दी | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯊꯨꯅꯥ | ||
| Mizo | rang | ||
| Oromo | ariitii | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଶୀଘ୍ର | ||
| Quechua | utqay | ||
| Sanskrit | तीव्र | ||
| Tatar | тиз | ||
| Tigrinya | ቀልጠፈ | ||
| Tsonga | xihatla | ||