‘Hurry Please’ in Spanish | Polite Ways To Say Hurry

Spanish has several polite “hurry” phrases, and the best one depends on who you’re speaking to and how urgent it feels.

You’re trying to move things along. A friend is dawdling. A driver is waiting. A cashier is ready, and you’re still counting coins. In English, “Hurry, please” can sound firm, still polite. In Spanish, a direct translation can come off sharper than you meant.

This guide gives you natural options, shows when to use each one, and helps you avoid the phrases that sound bossy. You’ll also get ready-to-use lines for travel, school, and everyday errands.

‘Hurry Please’ in Spanish For Real-Life Moments

If you say “Apúrate, por favor” to someone you know well, it can work. Still, it’s often more direct than English. A softer approach usually lands better, especially with strangers, service workers, or anyone older than you.

Think of Spanish “hurry” language on a dial. You can turn it up for urgency, or turn it down to sound friendly and patient.

Start With The Verb That Fits The Situation

The two most common “hurry” verbs are apurar(se) and dar(se) prisa. Both are widely understood. Their tone depends on how you frame them.

• Apúrate = “Hurry up” (direct, common with friends and family)
• Date prisa = “Hurry” (still direct, often a touch less sharp)

Use A Softer Structure When You Want Polite

Spanish often sounds kinder when you ask with a request phrase instead of a command. The trick is simple: swap the command for a question or a gentle request.

• ¿Puedes…? (“Can you…?”) lowers the pressure.
• ¿Me puedes…? (“Can you… for me?”) sounds even more courteous.
• Cuando puedas (“When you can”) adds patience, while still nudging.

How To Say Hurry Please In Spanish Without Sounding Rude

Here are reliable phrases, from gentle to urgent. Pick one based on your relationship and the stakes.

Gentle And Polite Options

Use these with strangers, coworkers, teachers, and anyone you want to treat with extra respect.

• ¿Podría ser un poco más rápido, por favor? (Could you be a bit faster, please?)
• ¿Me puede atender un momentito, por favor? (Could you help me for a moment, please?)
• ¿Podemos ir un poco más rápido? (Can we go a bit faster?)
• Si no es mucha molestia, ¿podemos apurarnos? (If it’s not too much trouble, can we hurry?)

Friendly Options For People You Know

These are common with friends, siblings, and classmates. They’re direct, but they don’t have to sound mean when your tone is light.

• Apúrate, porfa (Hurry up, please) — “porfa” is casual.
• Date prisa, que llegamos tarde (Hurry, we’re running late).
• Vamos, vamos (Come on, come on) — upbeat and quick.
• ¡Dale! (Let’s go!) — common in several countries.

Urgent Options When Time Truly Matters

Use these when there’s a real reason: a closing door, a missed connection, a safety issue. Don’t toss them out for tiny delays.

• ¡Rápido, por favor! (Quickly, please!)
• ¡Tenemos que irnos ya! (We have to leave now!)
• ¡Apúrate, ya! (Hurry up, now!)
• ¡Date prisa, por favor! (Hurry, please!)

Small Detail That Changes The Tone

Por favor helps, but it doesn’t magically make a command polite. What helps more is the structure around it. A question, a reason, and a calm voice do a lot of work.

When To Use Tú, Usted, Or Nosotros

Spanish politeness often depends on the form you choose. If you speak to a stranger with tú commands, it can feel too familiar. If you use usted with a friend, it can sound stiff or teasing.

Tú Commands For Friends And Family

These are standard in casual settings. They’re short, so they can sound strong. Add a reason to keep the vibe friendly.

• Apúrate, que empieza la clase.
• Date prisa, que se nos va el bus.

Usted Requests For Polite Distance

Use usted with service staff, older adults, or formal settings. Requests often sound best as questions.

• ¿Se puede apurar un poquito, por favor?
• ¿Podría ir un poco más rápido, por favor?

Nosotros Language To Share The Pressure

If you say “let’s” instead of “you,” it feels less like an order. It can also reduce tension when everyone is stressed.

• ¿Nos apuramos?
• ¿Vamos más rápido?
• Tenemos que movernos.

Pronunciation And Spelling Tips That Prevent Mix-Ups

When you’re nervous, it’s easy to blur words. A few quick checkpoints help you sound clear.

Apúrate And Apurar

Apúrate has stress on PU: ah-PU-rah-teh. The accent mark shows the stress. Without it, you might stress the wrong syllable.

Date prisa

Date prisa is “DA-teh PREE-sah.” The r in prisa is a soft tap in most accents.

Rápido

Rápido is “RAH-pee-doh.” That accent mark matters, too. It’s common in urgent moments, so it’s worth getting right.

Common Situations And The Best Phrase To Use

Context is everything. The same words can sound playful with a friend and harsh with a stranger. Use the situation to pick the tone.

At School Or In A Classroom

If you’re talking to a classmate, a casual nudge works. If you’re speaking to a teacher, a polite request feels right.

• To a friend: Apúrate, que empieza.
• To a teacher: ¿Podríamos ir un poco más rápido, por favor?

Travel And Transportation

When you’re about to miss a bus or train, you can be more direct. Still, you can keep it respectful.

• ¡Vamos, que se va! (Come on, it’s leaving!)
• ¿Podemos apurarnos? Ya está llegando.

Restaurants And Stores

With staff, skip commands. Use a question. If you need something quickly, explain why in one short line.

• ¿Me puede cobrar, por favor? Tengo prisa.
• ¿Podría traer la cuenta, por favor?

Texting And Casual Messages

Texting is a great place for short nudges that sound light. Add an emoji if you want, though your article title rules don’t apply to your messages.

• Apúrateee (playful stretch)
• Ya voy tarde, ¿te apuras?
• Vamosss (casual “let’s go”)

Quick Phrase Guide For Polite Vs. Urgent

The table below compares common options. It’s meant to help you choose fast without guessing.

Spanish Phrase	Best Use	Tone
¿Podría ir un poco más rápido, por favor?	Strangers, formal settings	Polite, measured
¿Se puede apurar un poquito, por favor?	Service situations	Polite, direct
¿Nos apuramos?	Group plans	Friendly, shared
Date prisa, por favor	Friends, mild urgency	Direct, still courteous
Apúrate, porfa	Close friends	Casual, pushy if misused
¡Vamos, vamos!	Getting moving	Upbeat
¡Rápido, por favor!	Real urgency	Firm
¡Tenemos que irnos ya!	Leaving immediately	Urgent

Regional Notes You Might Hear In Different Countries

Spanish is spoken in many places, so “hurry” slang changes. The safe options in this article work almost everywhere. Still, you might hear local favorites that carry the same idea.

Dale

Dale often means “go for it” or “let’s go.” It’s common in Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of the Caribbean, and you’ll hear it elsewhere too. In the right tone, it’s a friendly push.

Ándale

Ándale is common in Mexico. It can mean “come on” or “hurry up,” depending on how it’s said. With strangers, it can sound too familiar, so use it mainly with people you know.

Vamos

Vamos is universal. It’s also flexible. With a smile, it’s playful. With a sharp tone, it’s pressure. Your voice does the steering.

Mistakes That Make You Sound Harsher Than You Mean

Many learners aim for polite, then accidentally sound like they’re barking orders. These fixes help.

Using Only Commands

A command plus por favor can still feel bossy. Try a question form when you can. It’s a small switch that changes the feel.

Skipping The Reason

A short reason makes your request easier to accept. Keep it simple and true.

• ¿Podemos apurarnos? El bus ya llega.
• ¿Me puede cobrar? Estoy tarde para una cita.

Overusing Rápido

Rápido is strong. If you use it all the time, it can sound impatient. Save it for moments that call for urgency.

Mini Dialogs You Can Copy

Read these out loud once or twice. Your mouth learns the rhythm faster than your eyes.

With A Friend

A:¿Listo?B:Casi.A:Apúrate, porfa, que empieza la peli.

With A Taxi Driver

Tú:¿Podría ir un poco más rápido, por favor? Voy tarde.

At A Counter

Tú:¿Me puede cobrar, por favor? Tengo prisa.Empleado:Claro.

Practice Steps That Help You Use These Naturally

You don’t need to memorize a giant list. You need a small set that covers most moments. Build it in layers.

Pick Two Go-To Phrases

Choose one polite phrase and one casual phrase. Say each one ten times over a few days. Keep the rhythm smooth.

• Polite: ¿Podría ir un poco más rápido, por favor?
• Casual: ¿Nos apuramos?

Add One Reason Line

Reasons make your Spanish sound real. Pair your phrase with a reason you can reuse.

• …que llegamos tarde.
• …que se va el bus.
• …que ya cierran.

Record Yourself Once

Use your phone’s voice memo. Play it back. Listen for stress on apúrate and rápido. Fix one thing, then record again.

Scenario Picker Table For Faster Choices

This second table matches common situations with a safe phrase. It’s meant for quick scanning when you’re about to speak.

Situation	Suggested Spanish	Why It Works
Friend is taking too long	Apúrate, porfa	Casual and clear
Group is moving slowly	¿Nos apuramos?	Shares the pressure
You’re late to class	Date prisa, que llegamos tarde	Direct with a reason
Asking a driver politely	¿Podría ir un poco más rápido, por favor?	Respectful request
Waiting at a store checkout	¿Me puede cobrar, por favor? Tengo prisa.	Clear need, polite tone
Train or bus is about to leave	¡Vamos, que se va!	Urgency without insults
Real urgency and you need speed	¡Rápido, por favor!	Short and urgent

One more handy pair: tengo prisa means “I’m in a hurry,” and voy con prisa sounds similar. They let you explain urgency without ordering anyone around. Say them with a small “perdón” if you’re interrupting. It’s simple and it saves face often.

One Last Tip For Sounding Natural

If you want polite Spanish, aim for a calm ask, not a forceful command. Use a question form, add a short reason, then let your tone stay friendly. That combo works in daily life, travel, and school settings.