Lael logo

bajar means to go down / to lower — a common term in Essential Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: November 13, 2025

📘 Essential Spanish

bajar

verb • /[bah-HAR]/

to go down / to lower

Example:

Puedes bajar el volumen, por favor.

Can you turn down the volume, please?

🧠 What does bajar mean?

The verb 'bajar' is a highly versatile and common verb that primarily means 'to go down' or 'to descend'. It can also function as a transitive verb, meaning 'to lower' something. Its use extends to various everyday contexts, such as getting out of a vehicle ('bajar del coche'), reducing the intensity of something like volume or heat ('bajar el volumen'), prices decreasing ('bajar los precios'), and downloading files from the internet ('bajar una película'). This flexibility makes it an essential verb for learners to master.

📚 Extra examples

  • Por favor, baja las maletas del coche.
    Please, get the suitcases down from the car.
  • La temperatura bajó diez grados durante la noche.
    The temperature dropped ten degrees during the night.
  • Tenemos que bajar en la próxima estación de metro.
    We have to get off at the next metro station.
  • ¿Puedes bajar la voz? El bebé está durmiendo.
    Can you lower your voice? The baby is sleeping.
  • Estoy bajando los archivos que me enviaste.
    I am downloading the files you sent me.

💡 Did You Know?

The verb 'bajar' is related to the adjective 'bajo', meaning 'low'. This connection is clear in many idiomatic expressions. For instance, 'bajar la guardia' means 'to lower one's guard', and 'tener la moral baja' means to have low morale or feel down.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "bajar"

Synonyms: descender, disminuir, reducir, descargar
Opposites: subir, ascender, aumentar, incrementar

🔍 See more essential spanish words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to go down / to lower' in Spanish?
The most common and direct way to say 'to go down' or 'to lower' is with the verb 'bajar'.
How do you pronounce 'bajar' in Spanish?
The pronunciation is /baˈxaɾ/. It sounds like 'bah-HAR', with the stress on the second syllable. The 'j' has a sound similar to the 'h' in the English word 'hat'.
How do you use 'bajar' in a sentence?
You can use it to describe movement downwards, for example: 'El gato bajó del tejado' (The cat came down from the roof). It can also be used to mean 'to lower something': 'Baja la persiana, por favor' (Lower the blind, please).
What is the English translation of 'bajar'?
Its main translations are 'to go down' and 'to lower'. Depending on the context, it can also mean 'to get off' (a vehicle), 'to turn down' (volume), 'to drop' (prices/temperature), and 'to download' (files).
Does 'bajar' change for gender or number?
As a verb, 'bajar' does not change for gender or number. It is conjugated according to the subject and tense. However, its past participle, 'bajado', can function as an adjective ('la marea bajada') and would then agree in gender and number.
Is 'bajar' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'bajar' is an extremely common verb used daily in all Spanish-speaking regions for a wide variety of situations.
Does 'bajar' have slang or double meanings?
Yes, it can be used idiomatically. For example, 'bajarle a algo' or 'bajarle dos rayitas' means to tone it down or take it easy. In some contexts, 'bajar de las nubes' means to come back to reality.
Is 'bajar' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The core meanings are the same. One notable difference is that in Latin America, 'bajar' is very widely used for downloading files from the internet. While also understood, in Spain the verb 'descargar' is often preferred for this specific meaning.
How do you conjugate 'bajar' in Spanish?
'Bajar' is a regular -ar verb. Its present tense conjugation is: yo bajo, tú bajas, él/ella/usted baja, nosotros/as bajamos, vosotros/as bajáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes bajan.

📱 Download the App

Get reminders · Save favorites · Share words

Lael App Logo

Lael: Spanish Word of the Day

Download on the App Store