baja
/BA-ha/
low
Baja (feminine adjective) means 'low' or 'short' when describing height or level, like a low table.
📝 In Action
La mesa es muy baja para mí.
A1The table is too low for me.
Mi hermana es más baja que yo.
A1My sister is shorter than me.
Habla con la voz más baja, por favor.
A2Speak with a lower voice, please.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun
'Baja' is the feminine form of the adjective 'bajo'. You must use 'baja' to describe feminine things, like 'la mesa' (the table) or 'la silla' (the chair). For masculine things, you use 'bajo', like 'el precio bajo' (the low price).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'baja' and 'corta'
Mistake: "La falda es muy baja."
Correction: La falda es muy corta. Use 'corta' for the length of objects like skirts or pants. Use 'baja' for height or level, like a low table or a short person.
⭐ Usage Tips
Beyond Height
Think of 'baja' as meaning 'low' in many senses, not just height. It can refer to low quality ('calidad baja'), low temperature ('temperatura baja'), or even a low mood ('moral baja').
As a noun, baja means a 'drop' or 'decrease' in value or quantity, such as a sudden drop in temperature.
baja(Noun)
drop
?in numbers, temperature
,decrease
?in value, quantity
fall
?prices, stocks
,downturn
?economic
📝 In Action
Hubo una baja repentina de las temperaturas.
B1There was a sudden drop in temperatures.
La empresa anunció una baja en los precios.
B1The company announced a decrease in prices.
El equipo sufrió una baja importante en su rendimiento.
B2The team suffered a significant drop in its performance.
⭐ Usage Tips
To Cancel Something
The phrase 'dar de baja' is super useful. You use it when you cancel a subscription (like Netflix or a gym membership) or deactivate an account. The opposite is 'dar de alta'.
Baja can mean 'leave' from work, typically sick leave (estar de baja).
baja(Noun)
leave
?from work, e.g., sick leave
casualty
?military, accident
,withdrawal
?from a competition or course
📝 In Action
Mi colega está de baja por maternidad.
B2My colleague is on maternity leave.
El médico me dio la baja por una semana.
B2The doctor gave me sick leave for a week.
El ejército reportó cinco bajas en el combate.
C1The army reported five casualties in the combat.
⭐ Usage Tips
Key Phrase: 'Estar de baja'
The most common way you'll hear this is in the phrase 'estar de baja', which means 'to be on leave' from work, almost always for medical reasons. It's the standard way to say someone is on sick leave.
Baja is the third-person singular conjugation of the verb bajar, meaning 'he/she/it goes down' or 'descends'.
baja(Verb)
he/she goes down
?statement, third person
,you go down
?statement, formal 'usted'
go down!
?command, informal 'tú'
,it lowers
?e.g., the temperature
📝 In Action
Él baja las escaleras con cuidado.
A1He goes down the stairs carefully.
La temperatura baja por la noche.
A2The temperature goes down at night.
¡Baja de ahí ahora mismo!
A2Get down from there right now!
💡 Grammar Points
Two Jobs in One
The word 'baja' can be a statement about someone: 'Ella baja' (She goes down). Or, it can be a command you give to a friend: '¡Baja el volumen!' (Turn down the volume!). Context tells you which one it is.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: baja
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'baja' to mean 'sick leave'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'baja' and 'bajo'?
They are usually the feminine and masculine forms of the same adjective. Use 'baja' for feminine nouns (la mesa baja - the low table) and 'bajo' for masculine nouns (el precio bajo - the low price). 'Bajo' can also mean 'under' (bajo la mesa - under the table), but 'baja' cannot.
How do I say I'm canceling my phone plan?
The perfect phrase is 'Quiero dar de baja mi plan de teléfono.' The expression 'dar de baja' means to cancel or deactivate a service or subscription.