Rapide is likely the first word that comes to mind when you want to say "fast" in French. But just like in English, there are many shades of meaning when it comes to speed, and French offers a rich vocabulary to express them. Whether you're describing a lightning-quick athlete, a rapid-fire conversation, or a swiftly moving vehicle, using the right word can make all the difference. Let’s dive into 9 different ways to say "fast" in French, so you can express yourself with precision and flair!

The standard 'fast' (adjective) – rapide

The standard "fast" (adjective) – rapide

Rapide is the most common and versatile French adjective for 'fast' or 'quick'.

Unlike many French adjectives, rapide is invariable in its feminine form. It remains rapide for both masculine and feminine singular nouns. However, it does agree in number, becoming rapides for plural nouns.<ul><li>rapide - a singular masculine or feminine noun</li><li>rapides - a plural masculine or feminine noun</li></ul>

You can use rapide in virtually any situation, from casual conversation to more formal writing. It's the perfect go-to word for describing something as 'fast' or 'quick'.

While primarily meaning 'fast' in terms of speed, rapide can also imply 'quick' or 'swift', often referring to speed in action, reaction, or duration.

The key rule for rapide is its gender invariance. It doesn't change for feminine nouns. You only need to add an 's' for plural nouns. For example, une voiture rapide (a fast car) and un train rapide (a fast train) both use rapide. For plural, it would be des voitures rapides and des trains rapides.

So, you'd say C'est un cheval rapide (It's a fast horse) and C'est une tortue rapide (It's a fast turtle - perhaps ironically!). For plural, Ce sont des coureurs rapides (They are fast runners).

While rapide is the most common adjective, sometimes you might encounter vite (an adverb meaning 'quickly/fast') or véloce (a more literary or specific term for 'swift'). Rapide is the descriptive adjective you'll use most often.

Don't overthink rapide's agreement. Just remember it stays rapide for singular nouns (masculine or feminine) and becomes rapides for plural nouns. Its meaning is generally straightforward from context.

It's important to distinguish rapide (adjective) from vite (adverb). Rapide describes what is fast (a car, a person), while vite describes how an action is performed (run quickly, speak quickly). For example, Il est rapide (He is fast) vs. Il court vite (He runs quickly).

💡 * C'est une voiture rapide. (It's a fast car.)

• Il a pris une décision rapide. (He made a quick decision.)
• Les trains rapides arrivent bientôt. (The fast trains are arriving soon.)
• Elle est rapide à comprendre les choses. (She is quick to understand things.)
• Nous avons besoin d'une solution rapide. (We need a quick solution.)

The common 'quickly' (adverb) – vite

The most straightforward and common way to say “quickly” or “fast” in French is with the adverb vite.

Vite translates directly to “quickly” or “fast.” As an adverb, it typically follows the verb it modifies, describing how an action is performed. For example, Il court vite (He runs quickly).

You can use vite in almost any context where you want to express speed or promptness, whether it's about physical movement, completing a task, or urging someone to do something without delay.

It's frequently heard in everyday expressions like Fais vite ! (Hurry up! / Do it quickly!) or Viens vite ! (Come quickly!). In imperative sentences, vite often follows the verb for emphasis.

While vite means 'quickly' (adverb), its adjective counterpart is rapide (fast, quick). Remember that vite describes how an action is performed, whereas rapide describes a noun (e.g., une voiture rapide - a fast car).

💡 *Il a fini son travail vite. (He finished his work quickly.)
*Venez vite, le film va commencer ! (Come quickly, the movie is about to start!)
*Elle apprend très vite. (She learns very quickly.)
*Fais vite, nous sommes en retard ! (Hurry up, we are late!)
*Le temps passe vite quand on s'amuse. (Time passes quickly when you're having fun.)

The 'prompt' or 'ready' – prompt

The French word prompt is an adjective that directly translates to “prompt,” “quick,” or “ready.” It describes someone or something that is quick to act, react, or respond.

One of its most common uses is in the expression être prompt à faire quelque chose, meaning “to be quick to do something” or “to be ready to do something.” This highlights a readiness or a swiftness in action.

As an adjective, prompt agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: prompt (masculine singular), prompte (feminine singular), prompts (masculine plural), and promptes (feminine plural).

While similar to rapide (fast) or prêt (ready), prompt often carries a nuance of being disposed or eager to act quickly, rather than just physically fast. It implies a certain alacrity and willingness.

💡 * Il est toujours prompt à aider ses amis. (He is always quick to help his friends.)

• Elle fut prompte à réagir face au danger. (She was quick to react to the danger.)
• Nous devons être prompts à saisir cette opportunité. (We must be ready to seize this opportunity.)
• Les réponses promptes sont très appréciées. (Prompt answers are highly appreciated.)

The 'expeditious' or 'quick to finish' – expéditif

The “expeditious” or “quick to finish” – expéditif

Expéditif is a French adjective meaning “expeditious,” “quick,” or “swift.” It describes something done rapidly, often with a focus on efficiency and getting to the point without delay.

While often positive, implying efficiency, expéditif can sometimes carry a slightly negative connotation, suggesting a lack of thoroughness or being overly hasty, especially when describing a decision or a process.

As an adjective, expéditif agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: expéditive (feminine singular), expéditifs (masculine plural), expéditives (feminine plural).

💡 * Il a été très expéditif dans sa réponse. (He was very expeditious in his reply.)

• La procédure était trop expéditive. (The procedure was too hasty/expeditious.)
• Nous avons besoin d'une solution expéditive. (We need a quick/expeditious solution.)
• Elle a pris des mesures expéditives. (She took swift/expeditious measures.)

The more formal 'swift' – célère

The more formal 'swift' – célère

Célère is an adjective that translates to 'swift,' 'quick,' or 'rapid' in English. It describes something moving or happening with great speed.

Unlike more common synonyms like rapide, célère carries a slightly more formal, literary, or administrative tone. It suggests speed in a more elevated or precise manner.

You'll often encounter célère in written contexts, official documents, legal texts, or when describing a process or action that is notably fast and efficient in a formal setting.

As an adjective, célère agrees in number with the noun it modifies. It is invariable in gender, meaning it remains célère for both masculine and feminine nouns, changing only for plural: célères.

While rapide is the everyday word for 'fast,' célère emphasizes a quickness that is often efficient, decisive, or part of a formal procedure, implying a certain seriousness or importance to the speed.

💡 * Une réponse célère est appréciée dans ce genre de situation. (A swift response is appreciated in this kind of situation.)

• Le processus de remboursement a été étonnamment célère. (The reimbursement process was surprisingly swift.)
• La justice doit être célère pour être efficace. (Justice must be swift to be effective.)
• Il est connu pour son esprit célère et ses prises de décision rapides. (He is known for his swift mind and quick decision-making.)

The 'lightning-fast' or 'blazing' – foudroyant

The French adjective foudroyant literally translates to "blasting," "striking," or "stunning like lightning." It comes from the verb foudroyer, meaning "to strike with lightning" or "to blast."

However, its most common usage is figurative, describing something that is lightning-fast, blazing in speed or intensity, devastating, or overwhelming in its effect. Think of a sudden, powerful impact.

You'll often hear it for actions or events that occur with incredible speed and force. For example, une attaque foudroyante (a lightning-fast attack) or un succès foudroyant (a blazing/overwhelming success).

It can also describe an overwhelming emotional impact, like un amour foudroyant (love at first sight, literally 'a lightning-struck love'), or a rapidly progressing medical condition, such as une crise cardiaque foudroyante (a sudden, overwhelming heart attack).

The essence of foudroyant lies in its portrayal of something that is both incredibly swift and profoundly impactful, leaving little time for reaction or resistance.

💡 * Son regard foudroyant a fait taire tout le monde. (His blazing/piercing gaze silenced everyone.)

• L'équipe a remporté la victoire avec une attaque foudroyante. (The team won the victory with a lightning-fast attack.)
• Ce fut un coup de foudre foudroyant, ils se sont mariés un mois après. (It was love at first sight, they got married a month later.)
• La nouvelle de son départ a eu un effet foudroyant sur ses amis. (The news of his departure had a devastating/overwhelming effect on his friends.)
• Malheureusement, la maladie a eu une évolution foudroyante. (Unfortunately, the illness had a rapid and severe progression.)

The adverb for 'swiftly' or 'nimbly' – prestement

The adverb prestement in French translates to 'swiftly,' 'nimbly,' or 'briskly.' It is used to describe an action performed with notable speed and often a sense of agility or skill.

Unlike simple adverbs of speed like rapidement (quickly) or vite (fast), prestement implies a quickness that is also dexterous, graceful, or efficient. It suggests an action done with care and precision, not just haste, and often appears in more descriptive or literary language.

The origin of prestement can be traced to the Old French preste (meaning 'ready, quick'), which also gives us the Italian musical term presto (very fast). This connection highlights its inherent meaning of readiness and quick execution.

💡 * Il a prestement attrapé la balle avant qu'elle ne touche le sol. (He swiftly caught the ball before it touched the ground.)

• Elle a prestement rangé ses affaires et est sortie. (She nimbly put away her things and left.)
• Le magicien a prestement fait disparaître la carte. (The magician swiftly made the card disappear.)
• Les enfants jouaient prestement dans le jardin. (The children were playing briskly in the garden.)
• Il répondit prestement à toutes les questions posées. (He swiftly answered all the questions asked.)

The idiomatic 'in a flash' – en un éclair

To express something happening 'in a flash' or 'in the blink of an eye' in French, you'll often hear the idiomatic expression en un éclair.

This phrase vividly conveys extreme speed, suddenness, or instantaneity, much like its English equivalent. It's used when an event or action occurs almost instantaneously.

The word éclair literally means 'lightning' or 'a flash of lightning.' So, en un éclair translates directly to 'in a flash of lightning,' giving a clear image of its meaning.

As an idiom, en un éclair is fixed and doesn't change based on gender or number. It functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to describe how quickly something happens.

💡 * Il a disparu en un éclair. (He disappeared in a flash.)

• La nouvelle s'est répandue en un éclair. (The news spread in a flash.)
• Elle a compris la situation en un éclair. (She understood the situation in a flash.)
• Le magicien a fait apparaître la colombe en un éclair. (The magician made the dove appear in a flash.)

The idiomatic 'at full speed' – à toute vitesse

How do you say 'at full speed' or 'at top speed' in French? The most common and idiomatic way is à toute vitesse.

The phrase à toute vitesse literally translates to 'at all speed,' but its true meaning is 'at full speed,' 'at top speed,' or 'very quickly.' It emphasizes a high rate of motion or action.

You'll hear à toute vitesse used frequently to describe something moving or happening with great rapidity. It can apply to vehicles, people, or even abstract concepts like a project progressing quickly. It's a versatile expression for conveying urgency or extreme quickness.

While à toute vitesse is the most common, you might also encounter à toute allure (at full pace/speed) or simply très vite (very fast). However, à toute vitesse often carries a stronger sense of 'maximum possible speed.'

À toute vitesse is an adverbial phrase, meaning it modifies a verb. It remains invariable, regardless of the gender or number of the subject. For example, Il court à toute vitesse (He runs at full speed) and Elle court à toute vitesse (She runs at full speed).

💡 *La voiture a démarré à toute vitesse. (The car started at full speed.)
*Les enfants courent à toute vitesse dans le jardin. (The children are running at full speed in the garden.)
*Le projet avance à toute vitesse. (The project is moving forward at full speed.)
*Il a mangé son repas à toute vitesse pour ne pas être en retard. (He ate his meal at full speed so as not to be late.)
*L'information s'est répandue à toute vitesse. (The information spread at full speed.)

Are there other ways to say 'fast' in French?

Are there other ways to say “fast” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “fast” in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire vite en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for vite on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about speed.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different kinds of speed, or words about quickness in French, the WordReference entry for vite is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: Ce n'est pas la vitesse qui compte, c'est la direction. (It's not the speed that matters, it's the direction.)