velocidad

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin vēlōcitātem. By surface analysis, veloz +‎ -idad.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Spain) /beloθiˈdad/ [be.lo.θiˈð̞að̞]
• IPA^(key): (Latin America, Philippines) /belosiˈdad/ [be.lo.siˈð̞að̞]

• Audio (Colombia):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ad
• Syllabification: ve‧lo‧ci‧dad

Noun

velocidad f (plural velocidades)

1. speed

   Synonym: rapidez

2. (physics) velocity
3. (automotive) gear

Usage notes

• In Mexico, when used colloquially referring to a particular interlocking of gears, and while talking to the driver, the noun "velocidad" (or "marcha") is frequently omitted, as its meaning is understood by driver:

• ¿En qué lo traes? ― which gear have you set? (literally, “on what are you running it [the car]?”)
• (Lo traigo) en quinta ― fifth gear (literally, “in fifth”)

Derived terms

• caja de velocidades
• cambio de velocidades
• en doble pequeña velocidad
• en gran velocidad
• en pequeña velocidad
• patinaje de velocidad
• radar de velocidad
• tren de gran velocidad
• velocidad angular
• velocidad de crucero
• velocidad de escape
• velocidad de la luz
• velocidad del sonido

 

See also

• rapidez
• celeridad

Further reading

• “velocidad”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10