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"Back" is a noun which is often translated as "la espalda", and "back up" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "respaldar". Learn more about the difference between "back" and "back up" below.
back(
bahk
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (anatomy)
a. la espalda (F) (person)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I will never turn my back on you.Nunca te daré la espalda.
a. el respaldo (M) (chair)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
You can hang your jackets on the back of your chairs.Pueden colgar sus chaquetas en el respaldo de las sillas.
3. (rear part)
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. dar marcha atrás
She backed her car into the parking place.Dio marcha atrás para meterse en el estacionamiento.
b. retroceder
He would not back his truck out to let me pass.No quería retroceder su camioneta para dejarme pasar.
6. (to support)
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
7. (in space)
8. (in time)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Back when I was your age, we walked to school.Allá cuando yo tenía tu edad, caminábamos a la escuela.
Back when no one had a car, the roads around here were very different.En aquel entonces, cuando nadie tenía coche, las rutas por aquí eran muy distintas.
Things were different back then.Las cosas eran distintas en aquella época.
9. (returned)
a. de vuelta
She went to the store and was back in no time.Fue a la tienda y estuvo de vuelta en cinco minutos.
They will be back at six.Estarán de vuelta a las seis.
back up(
bahk
uhp
)A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
1. (to support)
a. respaldar
We have plenty of evidence to back up our theory that Hugo embezzled funds.Tenemos un montón de pruebas para respaldar la teoría de que Hugo malversó fondos.
b. apoyar
The officer called for more police to back her up.La oficial llamó a solicitar más policías que la apoyaran.
c. confirmar
This certified document backs up my claim to Mr. Richardson's estate.Este documento certificado confirma mi derecho al patrimonio del Sr. Richardson.
2. (to reverse)
a. dar marcha atrás
Back the car up carefully so as not to hit anyone.Da marcha atrás con el coche, con cuidado de no golpear a nadie.
b. echar en reversa (Colombia) (Mexico) (Panama)
Regionalism used in Colombia
Regionalism used in Mexico
Regionalism used in Panama
I had to back up the car because I entered a dead end alley.Tuve que echar el carro en reversa porque entré en un callejón sin salida.
3. (computers)
a. hacer una copia de seguridad
Remember to back up the financial data.Acuérdate de hacer una copia de seguridad de los datos financieros.
An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
4. (to reverse)
a. dar marcha atrás
You need to back up and then you can pull out of the parking space.Debes dar marcha atrás y luego puedes salir del cajón de estacionamiento.
b. echar reversa (Colombia) (Mexico)
Regionalism used in Colombia
Regionalism used in Mexico
Selene was going the wrong way on a one way street and refused to back up.Selene iba en contravía en una calle de un solo sentido y no quiso echar reversa.
c. retroceder
I heard a loud noise and a scream, and so I backed up slowly.Oí un ruido fuerte y un chillo, y retrocedí unos pasos lentamente.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
The orders are backing up because they're coming in faster than we can process them.Los pedidos se están acumulando porque llegan más rápido que lo que podemos procesarlos.
Traffic backed up for miles due to road construction.El trancón de tráfico se extendía por millas debido a la construcción en la carretera.
