salta
/SAHL-tah/
jumps
Salta means 'jumps'.
salta(Verb)
jumps
?He/She/It jumps
,you jump
?Formal singular present tense
,Jump!
?Informal singular command
leaps
?A large or athletic jump
,hops
?A small jump
📝 In Action
El perro salta la valla fácilmente.
A1The dog jumps the fence easily.
¡Salta! No tengas miedo del agua.
A1Jump! Don't be afraid of the water.
Usted salta muy alto para su edad.
A2You jump very high for your age.
💡 Grammar Points
Dual Role of 'Salta'
'Salta' can mean 'he/she/it jumps' (present action) OR it can be a direct command: 'You, jump!'
Regular AR Verb
The verb 'saltar' is a regular -AR verb, meaning it follows the most common conjugation patterns without tricky stem changes.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Imperative Forms
Mistake: "Using 'salte' when giving an informal command to a friend."
Correction: Use 'salta' for informal commands (tú), and 'salte' for formal commands (usted).
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Prepositions
Use 'saltar por encima de' (to jump over) or simply 'saltar' followed directly by the object being cleared.
Salta can mean 'skips,' as in omitting a step or page.
salta(Verb)
skips
?Omitting a step or page
,omits
?Leaving something out
bypasses
?Avoiding a sequence
📝 In Action
Si el sistema encuentra un error, salta esa línea de código.
B1If the system finds an error, it skips that line of code.
El profesor salta los capítulos menos importantes.
B2The professor skips the less important chapters.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
This meaning is an extension of the physical 'jump'—it means to jump over or bypass something in a sequence.
Salta can mean 'bursts out,' referring to a sudden emotional reaction.
salta(Verb)
bursts out
?An emotional reaction
,pops
?Of oil or popcorn
springs up
?Appearing suddenly
,flies off
?A part detaching suddenly
📝 In Action
El aceite caliente salta y quema la piel.
B2The hot oil pops and burns the skin.
Cuando ella lo escucha, salta de rabia.
C1When she hears it, she bursts out in anger.
💡 Grammar Points
Reflexive Warning
Sometimes 'saltarse' (using the reflexive form) is used when something detaches itself or pops out unexpectedly, like a button or a thread.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: salta
Question 1 of 2
Which meaning of 'salta' is being used in the sentence: 'El fusible salta cuando hay un corto circuito.'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'salta' is a command or a statement?
You can usually tell by the context and punctuation. If it has exclamation marks (¡Salta!) or is directed straight at 'tú' but phrased as a statement, it's a command. If it follows 'él/ella/usted,' it's a statement about what they are doing.
Is 'saltar' reflexive sometimes?
Yes, 'saltarse' is often used to mean 'to skip' or 'to miss' something personally, such as 'Me salté el desayuno' (I skipped breakfast). It emphasizes that the action was done to oneself.