pronto

"Pronto" is an adverb borrowed from Italian and Spanish that means "immediately," "quickly," or "without delay." In English, it is usually used to stress that something should happen very soon. When someone says, "Send me that file pronto," they mean they want it sent at once, not later. The word is direct, lively, and a little dramatic, which is part of its appeal.

You will rarely see "pronto" in formal or academic writing. It fits much better in conversation, stories, dialogue, or informal writing where a speaker wants to sound brisk or colorful. Think of a mechanic saying, "I'll have that tire fixed pronto," or a parent saying, "Get in the car pronto." In both cases, the idea is the same: no waiting.

Although the word has foreign roots, it has been familiar in English for a long time, especially in American English. In Italian, "pronto" can also mean "ready" and is used when answering the phone, but in English it usually keeps the sense of speed or immediacy. You might hear, "The doctor will be here pronto," or "If you need help, I'll come pronto." If you want a word that means "right now" but sounds a little more vivid than "quickly," "pronto" does that job well.