French Conversation · Level 55
73 words
French word
dépêcher
Pronunciation
IPA/depeʃe/
Meaning
- verbhurry
Example
Il faut se dépêcher si on veut attraper le train.
You need to hurry if you want to catch the train.
More examples
Je dois me dépêcher pour ne pas rater le rendez-vous.
I have to hurry so I don't miss the appointment.
Core concept
A person, action, or message being pushed along so it happens or reaches its destination faster.
Common phrases
se dépêcher
hurry
se dépêcher de
hurry to ___
Similar words
se presser: To act, travel, or prepare in a hurry.
presser: To press someone to act or move faster.
s'empresser: To hasten eagerly to do something.
précipiter: To bring about an event or decision prematurely.
Definition in French
S'empresser ou pousser quelqu'un à agir plus vite, autrement dit hâter une action ou un déplacement, et par extension envoyer rapidement.
Word origin
Dépêcher comes from Old French despechier, later dépêcher, and is related to dépêche, which acquired the sense of a rapid message or dispatch.
Usage tips
- The pronominal form se dépêcher means 'to hurry', while transitive dépêcher quelqu'un can mean 'to hurry someone' or, in formal use, 'to send someone'.