Why Apurar Changes Meaning Across the Spanish World
Apurar is a regular verb, but what it means depends on where you are. In much of Latin America, apurarse is the everyday verb for hurrying. In Spain, people more often say darse prisa, and apuro is about feeling awkward or under pressure.
Learn the six chunks below and you will understand both uses wherever you travel.
Pattern 1: ¡Apúrate! — "Hurry up!"
The everyday command in much of Latin America. Use apúrense for a group. In Spain, use date prisa instead. For another way to say it, see [Correr] Chunks.
- ¡Apúrate, que llegamos tarde! — Hurry up, we're going to be late!
- Apúrense, ya van a cerrar. — Hurry up, they're about to close.
- Apúrate un poco, por favor. — Please speed up a little.
Chunk to learn:
¡Apúrate! / ¡Apúrense! / Date prisa (Spain)
Pattern 2: No te apures — "Don't worry"
A reassuring chunk used across much of Latin America: don't stress, I've got it. Use no se apure with usted. In Spain, you would say tranquilo or no te agobies. For offering help, see [Ayudar] Chunks.
- No te apures, yo me encargo. — Don't worry, I'll take care of it.
- No se apure, señora. — Don't worry, ma'am.
- No te apures por eso. — Don't stress over that.
Chunk to learn:
No te apures / No se apure
Pattern 3: Estar apurado — "To be in a rush / in a bind"
The adjective apurado describes someone short on time. The noun apuro is a tight spot: estar en apuros means to be in trouble, and sacar de un apuro means to bail someone out. For sacar, see [Sacar] Chunks.
- Estoy apurado, hablamos luego. — I'm in a rush, we'll talk later.
- Estamos en apuros. — We're in a tight spot.
- Me sacó de un apuro. — He bailed me out.
Chunk to learn:
Estar apurado / Estar en apuros / Sacar de un apuro
Pattern 4: Apurar el paso — "To speed up / quicken your pace"
Use it for walking faster, usually because of time or weather. It sounds a little more literary than apúrate. For moving around, see [Andar] Chunks.
- Apura el paso, que va a llover. — Walk faster, it's going to rain.
- Apuremos el paso. — Let's pick up the pace.
- Apuró el paso al ver el reloj. — He quickened his pace when he saw the clock.
Chunk to learn:
Apurar el paso
Pattern 5: Apurar la copa — "To drain your glass"
Another meaning of apurar: to finish what is left in a glass or cup. It is the verb for the last sip. For drinking and taking, see [Tomar] Chunks.
- Apuró la copa de un trago. — He drained his glass in one gulp.
- Apuró el café y se fue. — He finished his coffee and left.
- Apura tu café, que nos vamos. — Finish your coffee, we're leaving.
Chunk to learn:
Apurar + [la copa / el café] / De un trago
Pattern 6: Me da apuro… — "I feel awkward…"
Very common in Spain: me da apuro or me apura says you feel embarrassed or uneasy about doing something. It is the polite hesitation before asking or refusing. For the polite style, see [Molestar] Chunks.
- Me da apuro llamarla tan tarde. — I feel awkward calling her this late.
- Me apura molestarte. — I feel bad bothering you.
- Me da apuro decirle que no. — I feel awkward telling him no.
Chunk to learn:
Me da apuro + [infinitivo] / Me apura + [infinitivo]
Apurarse vs. Darse Prisa
Apurarse is the Latin American verb for hurrying, and darse prisa is understood everywhere and standard in Spain. Both are correct: apúrate in Mexico, date prisa in Madrid. When you are unsure where you are, date prisa is the safest choice.
Start with ¡apúrate! and no te apures. You will hear both the first week you spend with Latin American friends.
This post is part of the Spanish Chunk Series — a growing collection of chunk patterns for natural Spanish.