rapido

§ rapido: quick overview

The Italian word rapido is an adjective. This means it describes nouns. Like many Italian adjectives, it changes its ending to match the gender and number of the noun it describes. You'll see it a lot, so let's get into how to use it right.

Meaning

Moving with great speed; quick, fast, rapid.

CEFR Level

A1 (Beginner)

§ How rapido changes

Remember, adjectives in Italian agree with the noun they modify. This means the ending of rapido will change depending on whether the noun is masculine, feminine, singular, or plural.

• Masculine Singular: rapido (e.g., un treno rapido - a fast train)
• Feminine Singular: rapida (e.g., una macchina rapida - a fast car)
• Masculine Plural: rapidi (e.g., treni rapidi - fast trains)
• Feminine Plural: rapide (e.g., macchine rapide - fast cars)

§ Using rapido in sentences

You'll usually place rapido after the noun it describes. This is a common pattern for many Italian adjectives.

Hint

The train is very fast.

Hint

We want a faster service.

Here, 'servizio' is masculine singular, so we use 'rapido'.

Hint

The answer was quick and clear.

'Risposta' is feminine singular, so we use 'rapida'.

Hint

They are very fast animals.

'Animali' is masculine plural, so we use 'rapidi'.

Hint

The decisions made were too quick.

'Decisioni' is feminine plural, so we use 'rapide'.

§ Related words: rapidly (avverbio)

You can also use the adverb form, rapidamente, which means 'rapidly' or 'quickly'. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, and they usually end in '-mente'.

Hint

He runs rapidly/quickly.

§ Rapido: What it means

Italian Word

Rapido (adjective)

CEFR Level

A1

English Definition

Moving with great speed; quick.

§ Where you actually hear 'rapido'

You'll hear 'rapido' in all sorts of daily situations. It's a very common adjective, and it's not just about physical speed. Think about things that are quick, efficient, or done in a short amount of time. Let's look at some places where this word comes up often: at work, in school, and in the news.

§ At work

In a professional setting, 'rapido' can describe processes, decisions, or even people. If a colleague is 'rapido', it means they get things done quickly. If a solution is 'rapido', it's efficient. You might hear it in discussions about workflow or project deadlines.

§ In school

In an academic environment, 'rapido' might refer to how quickly a student learns, how fast a process happens in science, or even a 'rapid' review of a topic. Teachers might encourage students to be 'rapidi' in their thinking, but also to be accurate.

§ In the news

News reports often use 'rapido' to describe events that unfold quickly, changes that happen fast, or even transportation. You'll frequently see it with words like 'sviluppo' (development) or 'cambiamento' (change) to emphasize speed.