pronto

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish pronto, from Latin prōmptus. Doublet of prompt.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɒntəʊ/, [ˈpʰɹɒntʰəʊ̯]

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɑntoʊ/, [ˈpʰɹɑntʰoʊ̯], [ˈpʰɹɑnoʊ̯]
• Rhymes: -ɒntəʊ

Adverb

pronto (not comparable)

1. (informal) Quickly, very soon, promptly.

   I need to finish this assignment pronto.

   • 2024 September 12, Sam Damshenas, “‘A new direction for the franchise’: Drag Race UK stars on “mind-blowing” season 6”, in Gay Times‎:

     “ […] I burst through the door with a pregnancy bump and shouted at him, pretending to be his mistress. I’ve never seen a man look so horrified in his life. I then went into a spontaneous lip-sync of ‘I Will Survive’.” (We need footage, pronto.)

Adjective

pronto (comparative more pronto, superlative most pronto)

1. (informal, rare) Quick, prompt.
   • 2014, Gurpareet Bains, “Turkey Meatloaf”, in The Superfood Diet, Bath, Somerset: Absolute Press, →ISBN, “Lunch” section, page 77:

     For a pronto lunch, take a slice or two to work and team with a tasty salad.

   • 2019, Allen Knox, “Under the Rabbit Skin”, in Afternoon Solipsism (Insinmind; 1), Bloomington, Ind.: Balboa Press, →ISBN:

     In pronto reaction time, Zeth chose to drive a black armored truck, […]

   • 2020, Douglas J. Alford, “Dinos to Dinner”, in Stories – of Self & Sharing, Alford Books, →ISBN, page 8:

     Wow! With a pronto 'Poof' from Funky, Bronto the Brontosaurus appears.

See also

Anagrams

• Porton, proton

Etymology

From Latin prōmptus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɾonto/ [ˈpɾõn̪.t̪o]
• Rhymes: -onto
• Syllabification: pron‧to

Adverb

pronto

1. early

   Synonym: llueu

2. soon

   Synonym: ceo

3. nearby

   Synonym: cerca

Etymology

From Latin prōmptus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɾonto/ [ˈpɾon̪.t̪ʊ]
• Rhymes: -onto
• Hyphenation: pron‧to

Adjective

pronto (feminine pronta, masculine plural prontos, feminine plural prontas)

1. prompt, speedy
2. ready, at the ready; willing

   Estades prontos? ― Are you ready?

   • 1861, José Sánchez de Santamarina, transl., Gospel of Matthew, page 115:

     Que si ben o esprito está pronto, a carne sin embargo é fraca

     Because even if the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak

Adverb

pronto

1. soon

   Synonyms: axiña, decontado

2. early

   Synonym: cedo

   Antonym: tarde

References

• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “pronto”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “pronto”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “pronto”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN

Etymology

From Latin prōmptus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpron.to/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -onto
• Hyphenation: prón‧to

Adjective

pronto (feminine pronta, masculine plural pronti, feminine plural pronte, superlative prontissimo)

1. ready, prepared

   È pronto il pranzo? ― Is lunch ready?

2. willing, prompt, set

Noun

pronto m (plural pronti)

1. ready-made

Interjection

pronto

1. (telephony) hello (when answering the phone)

Further reading

• pronto in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana