sube
“sube” means “goes up” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
goes up, climbsAlso: get in, rise
📝 In Action
Ella sube las escaleras corriendo.
A1She goes up the stairs running.
¡Sube al coche rápido! Ya es tarde.
A1Get in the car quickly! It's already late.
¿El ascensor sube o baja?
A2Is the elevator going up or down?
Word Connections
increases, raisesAlso: goes up, turns up
📝 In Action
Cada año, el coste de vida sube mucho.
A2Every year, the cost of living increases a lot.
Si hace frío, la calefacción sube la temperatura.
A2If it's cold, the heating raises the temperature.
¡Sube la música! Esta canción es genial.
B1Turn up the music! This song is great.
Word Connections
uploads, postsAlso: shares
📝 In Action
Mi hermana siempre sube fotos de su perro.
B1My sister always uploads/posts photos of her dog.
El director sube el archivo a la nube para compartirlo.
B1The director uploads the file to the cloud to share it.
¡Sube el video ahora mismo! Queremos verlo.
B2Upload the video right now! We want to see it.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sube
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'sube' as a command?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
The verb 'subir' comes directly from the Latin verb *subire*, formed by combining *sub-* (under, toward) and *ire* (to go). The ancient meaning was 'to go under' or 'to approach from below,' which evolved in Spanish to mean 'to go up' or 'to ascend.'
First recorded: Around the 13th century in Spanish texts.
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'sube' always related to physical movement?
Not anymore! While its original meaning is physical ('to climb,' 'to go up'), it is now commonly used metaphorically for increases (prices, volume) and digitally ('to upload' a photo), extending the core idea of moving something to a higher or public place.
How do I know if 'sube' is a command or a statement?
Context is key! If it starts with '¡' (exclamation mark) and is directed at a 'tú' person, it's a command ('¡Sube el volumen!'). If it follows 'él,' 'ella,' 'usted,' or a subject like 'El precio,' it's a statement ('El precio sube').