schnell
fast, quick · quickly, rapidly · hurry up!
Schnell means 'fast' or 'quick'. It describes speed of movement, action, or process. It is also used as an adverb meaning 'quickly' and can be used as an exclamation to urge someone to hurry.
What schnell means
- fast, quick — describing a person, vehicle, process, or action that takes little time
- quickly, rapidly — used as an adverb to describe how an action is done
- hurry up! — used as an exclamation to tell someone to act immediately
Heard in real German videos
Lines where schnell was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Ja, gern. Zum Glück sind sie schnell hier.Yes, gladly. Luckily they are quick to get here.
- Mama, schnell, komm, mach mit.Mom, quick, come on, join in.
- Ich muss schnell noch mal rein.I have to quickly go back in.
Example sentences
- Das Auto ist sehr schnell.The car is very fast.
- Bitte mach schnell!Please hurry up!
- Er läuft schneller als ich.He runs faster than I do.
- Sie ist die schnellste Läuferin.She is the fastest runner.
Grammar
| Comparative | schneller |
|---|---|
| Superlative | am schnellsten / schnellste |
As an adjective, it takes regular endings: ein schneller Hund, eine schnelle Katze, ein schnelles Auto.
Common phrases
- schnell wie der Blitzas fast as lightning
- schnell fahrento drive fast
- schnell machento hurry up
- schnellstmöglichas quickly as possible
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often confuse 'schnell' with 'bald' (soon). 'Schnell' refers to speed, while 'bald' refers to time in the near future. Use 'schnell' for fast actions, 'bald' for something happening soon.
Don’t confuse it with
- bald — Bald means 'soon', referring to a short time from now, while schnell means 'fast' in terms of speed.
- rasch — Rasch is a synonym for schnell but is slightly more formal and less common in everyday speech.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between schnell and rasch?
They are synonyms, but schnell is more common in everyday language. Rasch sounds slightly more formal or literary.
How do you say 'faster' and 'fastest' in German?
Faster is 'schneller' and fastest is 'am schnellsten' or 'der/die/das schnellste'.
Can schnell be used as an adverb?
Yes, schnell can be used as an adverb meaning 'quickly', e.g., 'Er rennt schnell.' (He runs quickly).