Meaning
Indicating something will happen immediately.
Cultural Background
In Spain, 'enseguida' is quite literal. If a waiter says it, they usually mean within the next 2-3 minutes. It is a sign of good service. While 'enseguida' is used, 'ahorita' is much more common. Be careful: 'ahorita' can mean anything from 1 second to never, while 'enseguida' sounds more committed. Argentines use 'enseguida' frequently in professional settings. In casual speech, they might also say 'ya mismo'. In Chile, the local idiom 'al tiro' often replaces 'enseguida' in casual conversation. Using 'enseguida' will make you sound more like a foreigner or very formal.
Spelling Rule
Always remember the 'u' in 'gui' is silent. It's there just to keep the 'g' hard. Never pronounce it 'en-se-gwi-da'.
Don't overpromise
In professional Spanish, 'enseguida' is a commitment. If you say it, people expect action within minutes.
Meaning
Indicating something will happen immediately.
Spelling Rule
Always remember the 'u' in 'gui' is silent. It's there just to keep the 'g' hard. Never pronounce it 'en-se-gwi-da'.
Don't overpromise
In professional Spanish, 'enseguida' is a commitment. If you say it, people expect action within minutes.
The 'Wait' Trick
If you need someone to wait for you, say 'Enseguida estoy contigo'. It's much more polite than just saying 'Espera'.
Regional Choice
Use 'enseguida' in Spain for clarity. Use 'ahorita' in Mexico for local flavor, but keep 'enseguida' for business.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct word for 'right away'.
El camarero dijo: '________ le traigo su café, señora'.
In a restaurant, 'enseguida' is the standard way to say 'right away'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I'll be right there'?
Someone calls you from the other room. You respond:
'Voy enseguida' is the idiomatic way to say you are coming immediately.
Complete the office dialogue.
Jefe: ¿Puedes imprimir este documento? Empleado: Sí, jefe. Lo imprimo ________.
To show you are doing the task now, use 'enseguida'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You realize you forgot your keys and need to go back inside for 10 seconds.
'Vuelvo enseguida' means 'I'll be right back'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Enseguida vs. Pronto
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEl camarero dijo: '________ le traigo su café, señora'.
In a restaurant, 'enseguida' is the standard way to say 'right away'.
Someone calls you from the other room. You respond:
'Voy enseguida' is the idiomatic way to say you are coming immediately.
Jefe: ¿Puedes imprimir este documento? Empleado: Sí, jefe. Lo imprimo ________.
To show you are doing the task now, use 'enseguida'.
Situation: You realize you forgot your keys and need to go back inside for 10 seconds.
'Vuelvo enseguida' means 'I'll be right back'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsBoth are correct, but 'enseguida' (one word) is preferred by the RAE and is more common in modern writing.
No. 'Enseguida' implies the very next moment. Use 'mañana' or 'pronto' for things further away.
It is neutral. It's perfectly fine for both a business meeting and a dinner with friends.
'Ahora' means 'now' (the current state). 'Enseguida' means 'immediately' (the next action).
Yes, in some regions you can say 'enseguida de' to mean 'next to', but its temporal meaning is much more common.
The most common way is 'Vuelvo enseguida'.
'Inmediatamente' is more formal and longer. 'Enseguida' is more natural in spoken Spanish.
Yes, it's very common in professional emails to confirm you are working on a request.
It's a polite way to acknowledge a customer's request and promise quick service.
When used as 'enseguida que', it takes the subjunctive if the action hasn't happened yet (e.g., 'Enseguida que llegue, te llamo').
Yes, it is universally understood, though some countries have local favorites like 'al tiro' or 'ahorita'.
It's better to say 'enseguida que' or 'nada más que'. 'Enseguida de que' is often considered redundant.
Related Phrases
ahora mismo
synonymRight now
ya
similarAlready / Now
de inmediato
synonymImmediately
al instante
similarIn an instant
pronto
similarSoon
luego
contrastLater
