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fretta
/ˈfret.ta/
hurry
Ho fretta, devo andare subito!
I'm in a hurry, I have to go right away!
informal
A state of urgency or impatience to do something quickly.
Non avere fretta, prenditi il tuo tempo.
Don't rush, take your time.
Faccio tutto con fretta perché ho un appuntamento tra dieci minuti.
I'm doing everything in a hurry because I have an appointment in ten minutes.
Often used to express impatience or stress about time constraints.
literary
A brief moment or instant (literary/poetic usage).
In un attimo, in una fretta, tutto cambiò.
In a moment, in a flash, everything changed.
Rare in modern speech; primarily found in older or poetic texts.
Collocations
avere frettato be in a hurrycon frettain a hurrysenza frettawithout hurryfare qualcosa con frettato do something hurriedly
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Mistakes
Avoid using 'fretta' as a verb. The correct verb forms are *avere fretta* (to be in a hurry) or *fare qualcosa in fretta* (to do something quickly).
Gold Rule
When to Use 'Fretta'
Use 'fretta' when describing a feeling of urgency or impatience due to time constraints. It is not used for physical speed (e.g., 'run fast' is *correre veloce*).
Word Origin
From Latin *festīna* (hasten), derived from *festīnāre* (to hurry). Related to Italian *festa* (party) in its original sense of 'haste' or 'rush'.
Usage Notes
Fretta is a feminine noun and commonly used with the verb *avere* (to have) in expressions like *ho fretta* (I'm in a hurry). It conveys a sense of urgency or impatience, often negative, but can also describe a natural rush in neutral contexts.
Word Breakdown
frett-
root related to haste
root-a
feminine noun suffix
suffixDizionario Italiano-Inglese