subir
/soo-BEER/
to go up
Subir means 'to go up' or 'to climb,' like ascending a mountain.
subir(verb)
to go up
?ascent, climb
,to ascend
?formal or technical context
to climb
?stairs or a hill
📝 In Action
Necesito subir las escaleras para llegar a mi apartamento.
A1I need to go up the stairs to get to my apartment.
Si el ascensor está roto, tendremos que subir a pie.
A2If the elevator is broken, we will have to walk up.
¿Puedes subir al coche? Vamos tarde.
A2Can you get in the car? We are late.
💡 Grammar Points
Movement Inward
When talking about getting into a vehicle (like a car or bus), Spanish uses 'subir al/en' where English uses 'get in' or 'board'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'subir' and 'levantar'
Mistake: "Using 'levantar' when meaning to move yourself up an incline."
Correction: Use 'subir' for moving yourself up (climbing stairs). Use 'levantar' only for lifting a heavy object.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Opposite
'Subir' is the perfect opposite of 'bajar' (to go down/descend). Learning them as a pair helps retention.
Subir can also mean 'to take up' or carry an object upwards.
subir(verb)
to take up
?carrying an object
,to bring up
?carrying something to another person
to lift
?if the action is brief or light
📝 In Action
Yo subo las maletas y tú subes las cajas pequeñas.
A2I'll take the suitcases up, and you take the small boxes up.
Por favor, ¿puedes subir mi café a la oficina?
B1Please, can you bring my coffee up to the office?
💡 Grammar Points
Transitive Use
In this case, 'subir' is an action verb that affects something else. The object (like 'maletas' or 'café') is directly acted upon by the verb.
When a price or amount grows, we use subir, meaning 'to increase.'
subir(verb)
to increase
?price, amount, or number
,to raise
?volume or heat
to go up
?prices or temperatures going up
,to climb
?in rank or position
📝 In Action
El gobierno decidió subir los impuestos este año.
B1The government decided to raise the taxes this year.
¿Podrías subir el volumen? No oigo nada.
B1Could you turn up the volume? I can't hear anything.
La temperatura va a subir mañana, hará mucho calor.
B1The temperature is going to go up tomorrow; it will be very hot.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Subir' as 'Turn Up'
For appliances like TVs or radios, 'subir' means 'to increase' the intensity (volume, heat). The opposite is 'bajar' (to turn down).
Subir is the verb used for 'to upload' files or photos to the internet.
subir(verb)
to upload
?files, photos, or documents to the internet
to post
?content on social media
📝 In Action
Voy a subir las fotos de las vacaciones a la nube.
B1I'm going to upload the vacation photos to the cloud.
Cuando subas el video, dime para verlo.
B2When you upload the video, let me know so I can watch it.
💡 Grammar Points
Digital Ascent
Think of 'subir' in a digital context as sending information 'up' to the cloud or a server. 'Descargar' (download) is the opposite action.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: subir
Question 1 of 3
Which meaning of 'subir' is used in the phrase: 'Los precios van a subir la semana que viene.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'subir' require the use of 'a' or 'de' with places?
Yes, 'subir' often uses the preposition 'a' (to) to indicate the destination: 'Subir a la terraza' (to go up to the terrace). However, when taking an object up, it often just uses the direct object: 'Subir el pastel' (to take the cake up).
How do I know if 'subir' means 'to go up' or 'to bring up'?
Look for a direct object. If the sentence mentions something being moved (like 'Subí las cajas' - I brought the boxes up), it means 'to bring up.' If the person is moving themselves, it means 'to go up' (like 'Yo subí' - I went up).