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"Bajo" is a form of "bajo", an adjective which is often translated as "short". "Abajo" is an adverb which is often translated as "down". Learn more about the difference between "bajo" and "abajo" below.
bajo(
bah
-
hoh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (not tall)
2. (reduced)
3. (inferior)
a. low
No quiero comprar nada que sea de baja calidad.I don't want to buy anything that is low quality.
4. (position)
a. ground
El departamento de papelería está en la planta baja.The stationery department is on the ground floor.
5. (phase)
a. late
La reforma protestante llegó a su clímax en la baja Edad Media.The Protestant Reformation reached its climax in the late Middle Ages.
6. (sound)
7. (territory)
a. low
El nombre de Holanda, o los Países Bajos, en inglés literalmente significa "país bajo".The Netherlands, or the Low Countries, in English literally means "low country."
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).
9. (underneath)
a. under
Bajo Castro, todas las salidas estaban bajo vigilancia.Under Castro, all exits were under surveillance.
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
11. (in flight)
abajo(
ah
-
bah
-
hoh
)An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
1. (position)
b. below
Me gusta bastante ese cuadro, pero prefiero el que está abajo.I quite like that painting, but I prefer the one below.
c. underneath
Él durmió en la litera de arriba y yo abajo.He slept on the top bunk, and I slept underneath.
2. (direction)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Haz un boceto del edificio visto desde abajo.Draw a sketch of the building seen from below.
Íbamos para abajo en el elevador cuando se descompuso.We were going down in the elevator when it broke down.
5. (after noun)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
La canoa avanzaba río abajo.The canoe moved downriver.
La riada arrastró los carros calle abajo.The flood swept the cars down the road.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Todo el equipo fue despedido, de la coordinadora para abajo.The entire team was fired, from the coordinator down.
Aceptamos a niños de 12 años para abajo.We admit children aged 12 or under.
7. (in a text)
An interjection is a short utterance that expresses emotion, hesitation, or protest (e.g., Wow!).
