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repente

sudden impulse

noun rreh-PEN-teh Rare
Time Time Expressions

Origin: From Latin repente (suddenly, all at once).

Usage Note

Repente is almost always encountered in the fixed phrase de repente, meaning 'suddenly' or 'all of a sudden.' Used alone as a noun it means a sudden impulse or outburst, but this is rare; learners will almost exclusively meet it as de repente. In some Latin American countries de repente also means 'maybe' or 'perhaps' (especially in Peru and Colombia).

Examples

"De repente empezó a llover."

Natural Translation

Suddenly it started to rain.

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