saltó
/sal-TÓ/
he jumped
saltó (he jumped)
saltó(Verb (Past Tense))
he jumped
?past action
,she jumped
?past action
,you (formal) jumped
?past action
he/she leaped
?more dramatic movement
,it sprang
?sudden movement
📝 In Action
El gato saltó sobre la mesa de un solo movimiento.
A1The cat jumped onto the table in a single movement.
Ella saltó de la silla cuando sonó el teléfono.
A2She jumped out of the chair when the phone rang.
Usted saltó la cuerda por cinco minutos sin parar.
A2You (formal) jumped rope for five minutes without stopping.
💡 Grammar Points
Past Action (Preterite Tense)
"Saltó" tells you about a single action that started and finished completely in the past. It's like a snapshot of the event: "He jumped (and the jump was over)."
The Crucial Accent Mark
The accent mark on the 'ó' is essential! It tells you the word is stressed on the last syllable (sal-TÓ) and signals that it is the past tense form, distinguishing it from 'salto' (I jump/the jump).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Past Tenses
Mistake: "Usando 'saltaba' cuando la acción fue única. (Using 'saltaba' when the action was unique.)"
Correction: Use 'saltó' (Preterite) for a one-time event, like 'El niño saltó una vez.' Use 'saltaba' (Imperfect) for habitual or ongoing past actions.
⭐ Usage Tips
Emotional Jumps
When describing sudden emotional reactions, we often use 'saltó' (e.g., 'saltó de alegría' - 'he/she jumped with joy').
saltó (he/she skipped/omitted)
saltó(Verb (Past Tense))
he/she skipped
?omitted a step or part
,he/she omitted
?left something out
he/she bypassed
?went around a process
,he/she missed
?missed a turn or opportunity
📝 In Action
El editor saltó el párrafo más polémico del artículo.
B1The editor skipped the most controversial paragraph in the article.
Ella saltó la parte de la receta que tenía nueces.
B2She omitted the part of the recipe that had nuts.
Por error, saltó un paso en las instrucciones y el mueble quedó mal.
B1By mistake, he skipped a step in the instructions and the furniture turned out wrong.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use of Movement
In this sense, the action of 'jumping over' something physically is extended to 'jumping over' something in a text or sequence, meaning to skip it entirely.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context Clues
If 'saltó' is followed by words like 'capítulo' (chapter), 'página' (page), or 'paso' (step), it almost certainly means 'skipped' or 'omitted,' not a physical jump.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: saltó
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'saltó' in the figurative sense of 'to skip'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'saltó' ever mean 'to dance'?
While the Latin root *saltare* historically related to dancing movements, in modern Spanish, 'saltar' almost exclusively means 'to jump' or 'to skip/omit.' You should use 'bailar' for 'to dance'.
How do I know if 'saltó' refers to 'he,' 'she,' or 'you (formal)'?
All three pronouns use the exact same verb form ('él saltó,' 'ella saltó,' 'usted saltó'). You have to look at the subject of the sentence or the context of the conversation to know who is doing the jumping.