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ímpetu

impetus

noun EEM-peh-too Rare
Mind & Emotions Mental States

Origin: From Latin impetus ('attack, force'), from impetere ('to rush upon').

Also means

momentum

Usage Note

Ímpetu is one of a small group of Spanish nouns that end in -u (rather than the usual -o or -a); it keeps the written accent on the í to signal that stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable. It is masculine, so el ímpetu. In modern usage it often appears figuratively — actuar con ímpetu ('to act with drive') — rather than meaning physical force.

Examples

"Atacó el proyecto con gran ímpetu."

Natural Translation

He tackled the project with great drive.

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