Spanish Phrase
Tenemos que arreglar esto rápido.
Meaning
The sentence means “We have to fix this quickly.” It conveys both a sense of duty (we must) and urgency (quickly). The speaker is emphasizing that the repair cannot be delayed.
When to use
Use this phrase when a problem needs immediate attention—whether it’s a technical glitch at work, a household repair, or any situation where time is limited. It works in both informal and semi‑formal contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tenemosquearreglarestorápido
tener que + infinitivo
Expresses obligation; the verb 'tener' is conjugated and followed by 'que' plus an infinitive.
Infinitive after tener que
The verb 'arreglar' stays in its infinitive form because it follows 'tener que'.
Demonstrative pronoun 'esto'
Points to a specific thing that needs fixing; works like 'this' in English.
Adverb placement
Adverbs of manner like 'rápido' usually go after the verb phrase in Spanish.
🗨In Conversation
Tenemos que arreglar esto rápido.
We have to fix this quickly.
Sí, lo haré ahora mismo.
Yes, I’ll do it right now.
✕Common Mistakes
Tenemos que ser arreglar esto rápido.
Do not use 'ser' after 'tener que'; the verb after 'tener que' must stay in infinitive.
Tenemos que rápido arreglar esto.
Adverb placement matters; placing it before the verb sounds unnatural.
↔Alternatives
Debemos arreglar esto pronto.
We must fix this soon.
Hay que arreglar esto rápido.
One must fix this quickly.
Necesitamos arreglar esto de inmediato.
We need to fix this immediately.
Cultural Tip
In Spanish, 'rápido' as an adverb follows the verb phrase, unlike English where it can appear before the verb. For a more formal tone you can replace 'rápido' with 'de inmediato' or 'sin demora'. Also, 'tener que' is personal (I/you/we have to), while 'hay que' is impersonal (one must). Choose the one that matches who is responsible for the action.