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"Back" is a noun which is often translated as "la espalda", and "down" is an adverb which is often translated as "abajo". Learn more about the difference between "back" and "down" 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 querÃa 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 tenÃa 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 tenÃa coche, las rutas por aquà 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.
down(
daun
)An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).
3. (direction)
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
5. (sad)
a. deprimido
I'm a bit down because my grandfather is sick.Estoy un poco deprimido porque mi abuelo está enfermo.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
The website has been down for three hours.El sitio web lleva tres horas sin funcionar.
We pay an arm and a leg, and the internet is always down!Pagamos un ojo de la cara y, ¡el internet nunca funciona!
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
8. (material)
a. el plumón (M)
(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).
I can't use a comforter made with down because I'm a vegan.No puedo usar un edredón de plumón porque soy vegana.
9. (hair)
b. el bozo (M) (on face)
(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).
That stuff on your upper lip is more down than a real mustache.Eso que tienes encima del labio es más bozo que un bigote verdadero.
b. la oportunidad (F)
(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).
They haven't converted a third down all game.No han convertido una tercera oportunidad en todo el partido.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. derribar
They downed the enemy aircraft with one shot.Derribaron el avión del enemigo con un solo disparo.
