Inklingo

salvarme

sal-VAR-meh/salˈβaɾme/

salvarme means to save myself in Spanish (physical or metaphorical self-rescue).

to save myself, to escape

Also: to be rescued, to get out of trouble
VerbB1regular (pronominal/reflexive) ar
Mexico
A small person is actively pulling themselves out of dark, choppy water onto a bright, sandy shore, using only their arms.
gerundsalvándome
infinitivesalvar
past Participlesalvado

📝 In Action

Necesito un plan rápido para salvarme de esta situación.

B1

I need a quick plan to save myself from this situation.

Si no estudio, no podré salvarme en el examen final.

B2

If I don't study, I won't be able to pass/save myself in the final exam.

Solo tuve que mentir un poco para salvarme del castigo.

B2

I only had to lie a little to get myself out of the punishment.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • escapar (to escape)
  • librarse (to free oneself)

Antonyms

  • perderse (to lose oneself)
  • rendirse (to give up)

Common Collocations

  • intentar salvarmeto try to save myself
  • salvarme de la ruinato save myself from ruin

Idioms & Expressions

  • salvarse por la campanato be saved by the bell (just in time)

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

yome salvara
él/ella/ustedse salvara
te salvaras
vosotrosos salvaraís
nosotrosnos salváramos
ellos/ellas/ustedesse salvaran

present

yome salve
él/ella/ustedse salve
te salves
vosotrosos salvéis
nosotrosnos salvemos
ellos/ellas/ustedesse salven

indicative

imperfect

yome salvaba
él/ella/ustedse salvaba
te salvabas
vosotrosos salvabais
nosotrosnos salvábamos
ellos/ellas/ustedesse salvaban

present

yome salvo
él/ella/ustedse salva
te salvas
vosotrosos salváis
nosotrosnos salvamos
ellos/ellas/ustedesse salvan

preterite

yome salvé
él/ella/ustedse salvó
te salvaste
vosotrosos salvasteis
nosotrosnos salvamos
ellos/ellas/ustedesse salvaron

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "salvarme" in Spanish:

to escape

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: salvarme

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'salvarme' to mean 'to get myself out of trouble'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

Comes from the Latin word *salvare*, meaning 'to save' or 'to keep safe.' The core concept of preservation has remained constant since its origin, and the addition of 'me' simply directs that preservation back to the speaker.

First recorded: Around the 10th-12th century in Old Spanish.

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: salvarmiPortuguese: salvar-meFrench: sauver

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'salvarme' one word but 'me salvo' is two words?

'Salvarme' is the infinitive (the base verb) with the pronoun attached, which is the rule when the verb isn't conjugated. 'Me salvo' is the conjugated verb (I save) where the pronoun 'me' must separate and come before the verb.

Is 'salvarme' always about physical danger?

No. While it can mean physical rescue, it is very commonly used metaphorically to mean escaping financial ruin, avoiding a bad grade, or getting out of an embarrassing situation.