If you’re learning Italian, you’ve probably heard both “in fretta” and “di fretta”. But… what’s the difference between the two? Can you use both? Does the meaning change?
It seems really just a nuance but in this article, I’ll explain everything clearly, with lots of examples, a summary table, and useful sentences to help you speak like a real Italian.
Look at these examples to see how “in fretta” e “di fretta” are used.
🟡 Sono di fretta;
🟢 Ho mangiato in fretta.
Try this exercise to test you.
Read the explanation to learn more.
📌 IN FRETTA
🔹 We use “in fretta” to describe how you do something.
🔹 It never changes (just like well, badly, quickly).
🔹 It means: quickly, fast.
✅ Examples:
- Ho mangiato in fretta perché ero in ritardo. (I ate quickly because I was late.)
- Marco parla sempre in fretta. (Marco always speaks quickly.)
- Dobbiamo finire in fretta, il capo sta arrivando! (We have to finish quickly, the boss is coming!)
👉 You can also say: velocemente, rapidamente (quickly, rapidly).
IN FRETTA -> is used with action verbs to describe the way something is done: in a quick way, possibly not very precisely.
✅ Common verbs:
🟢 “In fretta” works well with most action verbs, because it describes how the action is performed.
📌 DI FRETTA
🔹 We use “di fretta” to describe how a person feels or their situation.
🔹 It talks about the person, not the action.
🔹 It means: in a hurry, with little time, feeling rushed.
✅ Examples:
- Scusa, sono/vado di fretta, ti chiamo più tardi. (Sorry, I’m in a hurry, I’ll call you later.)
- Era/andava di fretta e ha dimenticato il portafoglio. (He was in a hurry and forgot his wallet.)
- Sembri sempre di fretta: rilassati un po’! (You always seem to be in a hurry: relax a bit!)
👉 We often use it with the verbs essere (to be) or andare (to go).
DI FRETTA -> It’s used with verbs of state or movement to describe the person’s condition.
The meaning is similar to: “in a rush”, “having little time”, “being in a hurry”, “leaving quickly”.
✅ Common verbs:
🟡 Be careful: “di fretta” is not used with specific actions like “mangiare”, “parlare”, “scrivere”, etc.
Table of Differences
| Expression | When to Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in fretta | How something is done | Vado di fretta No time to stop and talk. |
| di fretta | When someone feels rushed or busy | Vado in fretta I am a fast walker/driver. |
More Examples to Compare
| Sentence with in fretta | Sentence with di fretta |
|---|---|
| Lucia ha preparato tutto in fretta. (Lucia prepared everything in fretta.) | Lucia era di fretta stamattina. (Lucia was di fretta this morning.) |
| Abbiamo finito il lavoro in fretta. (We finished the work in fretta.) | Siamo di fretta, possiamo parlare più tardi? (We’re di fretta, can we talk later?) |
| Parla molto in fretta, non riesco a capirlo. (He talks really in fretta, I can’t understand him.) | Parla come uno che va di fretta, tutto nervoso. (He talks like someone di fretta, all nervous.) |
📝 Quick Summary
| ✅ “In fretta” → how you do something → action
| ✅ “Di fretta” → how a person feels → person
Do this exercise to test you again.
Expressions with fretta – Explanations and Examples
Sometimes we have to do everything in fretta e furia, that is, very quickly and without thinking too much, maybe because we’re running late.
👉 Stamattina mi sono vestito in fretta e furia e ho dimenticato il portafoglio! (This morning I got dressed in a rush and forgot my wallet!)
When something happens per la fretta, it means we did it badly or carelessly, just because we were in a hurry.
👉 Per la fretta ho mandato il messaggio alla persona sbagliata! (Because I was in a hurry, I sent the message to the wrong person!)
But we don’t always have to rush: if someone tells you “non c’è fretta”, it means you can do things calmly, there’s no urgency.
👉 Puoi consegnare il compito domani, non c’è fretta. (You can turn in the assignment tomorrow, there’s no hurry.)
Doing something senza fretta means taking your time and relaxing.
👉 Puoi consegnare il compito domani, non c’è fretta. (We walked around the historic center without hurrying.)
Finally, mettere fretta a qualcuno means pushing someone to do something faster, even if they don’t want to or can’t.
👉 Non mi mettere fretta, voglio rileggere tutto con attenzione! (Don’t rush me, I want to read everything carefully!)
✅ Conclusion
“In fretta” and “di fretta” are very common in Italian, but they don’t mean the same thing. One talks about the action, the other about the person.
Now that you know the difference, try using them in your conversations or writing exercises!
👉 Want to practice with fun sentences and activities?
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