German · Emotions & Descriptions
"Fast" in German: schnell
schnell
Fast in German is schnell. Say Das Internet ist schnell or Fahr nicht so schnell. Comparative is schneller; very fast is sehr schnell.
Traffic
Hier darfst du nicht so schnell fahren.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce schnell
Say it
shnell
/ʃnɛl/
shnell. Soft sch as sh. Soft e. Soft final ll.
"Fast" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| schnell | fast / quick Default adjective and adverb. | Default adjective and adverb. |
| zu schnell | too fast Speed warnings. | Speed warnings. |
| schneller | faster Comparative. | Comparative. |
| Mach schnell! | Hurry up! Informal push. | Informal push. |
How to use schnell in real life
- 1Traffic
Hier darfst du nicht so schnell fahren.
You're not allowed to drive so fast here.
Schnell as adverb with fahren.
- 2Work
Können wir das schnell erledigen?
Can we finish that quickly?
Schnell for a short task.
- 3Wi-Fi
Wow, das WLAN ist echt schnell.
Wow, the Wi-Fi is really fast.
Schnell describing connection speed.
Mistakes English speakers make with schnell
Incorrect: Das Auto ist fast.
Correct: Das Auto ist schnell.
Fast means almost in German; use schnell for fast.
Incorrect: Er rennt rapid.
Correct: Er rennt schnell.
Use schnell, not English/Latin rapid.
Good to know
Watch the false friend: fast in German means almost (Ich bin fast fertig). For speed, always schnell. On roads, zu schnell is what police and passengers both say.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Rushing to catch a tram
ChatPal
Müssen wir wirklich so schnell laufen?
Do we really have to run so fast?
You
Ja — die Bahn kommt schnell, glaub mir.
Yes — the tram comes fast, believe me.
ChatPal
Okay, okay. Ich bin schon außer Atem.
Okay, okay. I'm already out of breath.
You
Gleich geschafft. Danach gehen wir nicht mehr so schnell.
Almost there. After that we won't go so fast.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Fast" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Fast" in German
How do you say fast?
Schnell.
What does German fast mean?
Almost — not quick.
Faster?
Schneller.
Hurry up?
Mach schnell!
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- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
