agachar
“agachar” means “to lower” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to lower
Also: to bend down
📝 In Action
Tienes que agachar la cabeza para no golpearte.
A2You have to lower your head so you don't hit yourself.
El perro agacha las orejas cuando está asustado.
B1The dog lowers its ears when it is scared.
Agachó la mirada porque le daba vergüenza.
B2He looked down (lowered his gaze) because he was embarrassed.
to crouch down
Also: to duck
📝 In Action
Me agaché para recoger las llaves del suelo.
A2I bent down to pick up the keys from the floor.
¡Agáchate! Viene un balón hacia ti.
A1Duck! A ball is coming toward you.
Tuvimos que agacharnos para pasar por el túnel.
B1We had to crouch down to go through the tunnel.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: agachar
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'I crouched down'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Formed from the prefix 'a-' (towards) and the word 'gacho,' which means bent or downward-sloping. 'Gacho' likely comes from Latin words meaning compressed or driven down.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'bajar' and 'agachar'?
'Bajar' is general (to go down, to lower prices, to get off a bus), while 'agachar' is specific to bending or crouching your body.
Do I always need to use 'me', 'te', or 'se'?
Use them when you are lowering your entire body (crouching). If you are just lowering your head, you can just say 'agachar la cabeza'.
Can I use 'agachar' for a volume knob?
No, for volume or temperature, always use 'bajar'.