QUICK ANSWER
"Descend" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "descender", and "go down" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "bajar". Learn more about the difference between "descend" and "go down" below.
descend(
dih
-
sehnd
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to go down)
a. bajar por
This lovely path descends the dunes and leads you to the seashore.Este hermoso sendero baja por las dunas y te lleva hacía la orilla del mar.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
3. (to go down)
a. descender de
Holly is descended from one of the pilgrims who came to America on the Mayflower.Holly desciende de uno de los colonos que vinieron a América en el Mayflower.
a. invadir
Every summer, droves of tourists descend upon this sleepy little beach town.Cada verano, manadas de turistas invaden este pueblito tranquilo de playa.
a. rebajarse a
It was unfathomable that the count should have to descend to dress himself.Era inconcebible que el conde tuviera que rebajarse a vestirse a sí mismo.
a. provenir de
Timba descends from many different traditional styles of Cuban music.La timba proviene de varios estilos tradicionales de la música cubana.
a. pasar a
When Pablo died, his estate descended to his only son, Lorenzo.Cuando murió Pablo, su patrimonio pasó a su único hijo, Lorenzo.
a. caer sobre (figurative)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
Night descended upon Paris, and the revelers headed to the Moulin Rouge.La noche cayó sobre París y los juerguistas se dirigieron hacia el Moulin Rouge.
10. (to decrease)
a. descender a
One of the hikers fell as they were descending into the bottom of the ravine.Uno de los excursionistas se cayó mientras descendían al fondo del barranco.
b. bajar a
The submarine descended into one of the deepest trenches on our planet.El submarino bajó a uno de los fosos más profundos de nuestro planeta.
a. sumir en
The saloon descended into utter chaos, and the sheriff was nowhere in sight.La cantina se sumió en un caos total, y no se veía al comisario por ninguna parte.
go down(
go
daun
)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.).
1. (to descend)
3. (to fall)
4. (to crash)
5. (to sink)
a. hundirse
The ship went down in the Bermuda Triangle.El barco se hundió en el Triángulo de las Bermudas.
a. bajar
The clouds rolled in and the temperature went down.Llegaron las nubes y la temperatura bajó.
b. descender
The temperature goes down abruptly at night.La temperatura desciende bruscamente en la noche.
c. disminuir
Interest rates have gone down in an attempt to stimulate the economy.Las tasas de interés disminuyeron en un intento por estimular la economía.
7. (to decline)
a. empeorar
The food quality at that restaurant has gone down since the owner's wife died.La calidad de la comida en ese restaurante empeoró desde que se murió la esposa del dueño.
b. bajar
Academic standards went down when the school started accepting anyone who could pay.Los estándares académicos bajaron cuando la escuela comenzó a aceptar a cualquiera que pudiera pagar.
c. perder
Our house has gone down in value with the supermarket next to it.Nuestra casa ha perdido valor con el supermercado al lado.
8. (to deflate)
a. desinflarse
He was winning the race until his right front tire went down.Estaba ganando la carrera hasta que la llanta delantera derecha se desinfló.
10. (to break down)
a. dejar de funcionar
The system went down for three hours last night during the storm.El sistema dejó de funcionar anoche por tres horas durante la tormenta.
a. pasar
Louis XIV went down in history as the Sun King.Luis XIV pasó a la historia como el Rey del Sol.
a. terminar la carrera
He went down from Oxford five weeks ago and has opened a surgery in London.Terminó la carrera en Oxford hace cinco semanas y ha abierto un consultorio en Londres.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Take a sip of water to help the pill go down.Toma un poco de agua para ayudarte a pasar la pastilla.
That cake was so dry it would not go down!El pastel estaba tan seco que no lograba tragarlo.
14. (to subside)
a. bajar (fever, swelling, floods)
Put some ice on it to help the swelling go down.Ponle un poco de hielo para ayudar a bajar la hinchazón.
15. (to extend)
16. (to be received)
a. ser recibido
His resignation announcement went down badly.La notica de su renuncia fue mal recibida.
b. tener acogida
The plan did not go down well with the members.El plan no tuvo buena acogida entre los socios.
c. gustar
George's selection as the team captain did not go down well with the rest of the team.La elección de George como el capitán del equipo no le gustó al resto del equipo.
d. caer
Getting married before you finish college is not going to go down well with your mother.Casarte antes de terminar la carrera no va a caerle bien a tu mamá.
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.).
17. (to descend)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
18. (colloquial) (to occur)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
A brawl went down at the bar.Se desató una pelea en el bar.
A protest went down when the workers were denied a raise.Se armó una protesta cuando a los trabajadores les negaron el aumento.
