sube
/soo-beh/
goes up
This image shows someone who goes up (sube).
sube(verb)
goes up
?present action (he/she/it/you formal)
,climbs
?present action or habitual climbing
get in
?as a command (get into a car/bus)
,rise
?referring to inanimate objects
📝 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?
💡 Grammar Points
Dual Role of 'Sube'
'Sube' can mean either 'He/She/It/You (formal) goes up' (telling you what is happening) OR 'Go up!' (a direct command to 'tú').
Getting into Vehicles
Use 'subir a' when talking about getting into or on a vehicle (subir al coche, subir al tren).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Commands
Mistake: "Using 'suba' for the informal command to 'tú'."
Correction: Use '¡Sube!' for 'tú' commands. '¡Suba!' is the formal command for 'usted'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Reflexive Pronouns
When talking about getting on yourself, you might hear 'se sube' (he/she gets on), which emphasizes the voluntary action.
The rising temperature increases (sube) rapidly.
sube(verb)
increases
?prices, temperature, rates
,raises
?volume, salaries
goes up
?general growth
,turns up
?volume
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Use with Direct Object
When 'sube' means 'raises' or 'turns up,' it takes a direct object: 'Sube el volumen' (Turn up the volume). The volume is receiving the action.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Aumentar' for Volume
Mistake: "Saying 'Aumenta el volumen' (while technically correct)."
Correction: 'Sube el volumen' is much more natural and common when talking about sound or light intensity.
⭐ Usage Tips
Opposite Meaning
If you want to reduce the price or turn down the sound, use 'baja' (the opposite command/action).
When a file uploads (sube), it moves to the cloud.
sube(verb)
uploads
?digital files, photos, videos
,posts
?social media content
shares
?content online
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative 'Up'
This meaning uses the idea of moving data from your device (down) to the internet (up), much like the English verb 'upload'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Cargar' Incorrectly
Mistake: "Using 'cargar' when you mean 'upload' specifically to a platform."
Correction: 'Subir' is the dominant and clearest way to say 'upload' in Spanish, especially in casual speech.
⭐ Usage Tips
Directional Prepositions
You almost always need a preposition like 'a' or 'en' to specify where the content is being uploaded (e.g., 'subir A Instagram').
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sube
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'sube' as a command?
📚 More Resources
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').