Suddenly / Subitamente

Question

Suddenly / Subitamente

I just learned this word. But if I type it in a sentence in google or bing translator, I get other words instead.

For example: I awoke suddenly =
Me desperté de repente (in Google) or
Despertó repentinamente (in Bing)

I want to know the better way to say this among South Americans (not Spain).

Some of the words I see under Google for "Suddenly" are:

1. de repente
2. de pronto
3. inesperadamente
4. bruscamente

They don't even list Subitamente

So which should I use?

Thanks for any help,

Rachel

Answer 1

The better way is saying "de repente"

Saludos de Chile!!

This is also true Rachel!

Answer 2

I belive so Lazarus.

Answer 3

He suddenly turned away or He brusquely turned away:

(ÿl) volvió la espalda bruscamente.

De repente volvió la espalda.

One is more harsh or rude and in that case, you would use:

ÿl volvió la espalda bruscamente.

Seems fine.

Answer 4

So for example:

He suddenly turned away or He brusquely turned away:

ÿl volvió la espalda bruscamente.
De repente volvió la espalda.

One is more harsh or rude and in that case, you would use:
ÿl volvió la espalda bruscamente.

Si?

Rachel

Answer 5

Rachel, "súbitamente" is a rather literary term; people don't normally say that in informal spoken Spanish. Keep it for a novel or a formal speech.

As Rodrigo said, "de repente" and "de pronto" are by far the most common ones. "Inesperadamente" means "unexpectedly" (esperar = expect, -mente = -ly), and "bruscamente" means "brusquely" (can you see how similar they look') or "abruptly".

Thanks,
So I would pick the one that fit the situation better.

Answer 6

My *Gran Diccionario *is of no help here with usage,

súbitamente, adv. suddenly except that it shows the word spelled with an accent mark over the "u", which one may need to place, if hoping to find this word when searching for it online.

Answer 7

Rachel, "súbitamente" is a rather literary term; people don't normally say that in informal spoken Spanish. Keep it for a novel or a formal speech.

As Rodrigo said, "de repente" and "de pronto" are by far the most common ones. "Inesperadamente" means "unexpectedly" (esperar = expect, -mente = -ly), and "bruscamente" means "brusquely" (can you see how similar they look') or "abruptly".

Answer 8

¡Hola Rodrigo!

¡Saludos de los Estados Unidos a Chile!

Answer 9

The better way is saying "de repente"

Saludos de Chile!!

Answer 10

I am not sure Rachel, when Lazarus or Heidita or Quentin sees this they should clarify this for you.

¡Bienvenida a los foros de español e inglés!