abajo
ah-BAH-hoh
/aˈβaxo/
As an adverb, abajo means 'down' or 'below'. The image shows the house is located abajo (below) the other house.
abajo(Adverbe)
en bas
?general direction or location
,en bas
?in a lower position
en bas (étage)
?on a lower floor of a building
📝 En Action
El gato está abajo.
A1The cat is downstairs.
Mira hacia abajo y verás las flores.
A1Look down and you'll see the flowers.
Vivimos en el piso de abajo.
A2We live on the floor below.
La pelota rodó cuesta abajo.
B1The ball rolled downhill.
💡 Points de grammaire
Abajo vs. Debajo de
Think of 'abajo' as the general idea of 'down' or 'downstairs'. Use 'debajo de' when you mean 'under' a specific object. For example, 'El perro está abajo' (The dog is downstairs), but 'El perro está debajo de la mesa' (The dog is under the table).
❌ Erreurs Courantes
Confusing 'Abajo' with 'Bajo'
Erreur : “El libro está abajo la mesa.”
Correction : Say 'El libro está bajo la mesa' or '...debajo de la mesa.' 'Bajo' and 'debajo de' act like the English word 'under' and need to be followed by the thing you are under. 'Abajo' usually stands on its own.
⭐ Conseils d''utilisation
A Stand-Alone Word
You can often use 'abajo' all by itself. If someone upstairs asks '¿Dónde estás?' (Where are you?), you can just shout back '¡Abajo!' (Downstairs!). It's a complete answer.
Used as an interjection, ¡Abajo...! means 'Down with...!' and is used to express strong protest or opposition against something symbolized by the falling gray block.
📝 En Action
¡Abajo la dictadura!
B2Down with the dictatorship!
Los manifestantes gritaban: '¡Abajo el gobierno!'
C1The protesters were shouting: 'Down with the government!'
⭐ Conseils d''utilisation
Context is Everything
This use of 'abajo' is very powerful and almost always political or social. You'll hear it in movies about revolutions or in news reports about protests. It's not for everyday conversation.
✏️ Exercice rapide
Quiz rapide : abajo
Question 1 sur 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'abajo'?
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Questions Fréquemment Posées
What's the real difference between 'abajo', 'debajo de', and 'bajo'?
It's a common point of confusion! Here's a simple way to think about it: 'Abajo' is a general location or direction ('down there', 'downstairs'). 'Debajo de' and 'bajo' both mean 'under' a specific thing and need an object after them ('under the table'). 'Debajo de' is more common in everyday speech, while 'bajo' can sound a bit more formal or literary, but they are often interchangeable.
Can I say 'ir para abajo'?
Yes, absolutely! 'Ir para abajo' or simply 'ir abajo' both mean 'to go down'. Adding 'para' can sometimes emphasize the direction or destination. Both are very common and sound natural.