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How to Say "below" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “below” is “abajo” — use 'abajo' when referring to a general lower position or direction, often indicating 'down' or 'downstairs'..

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abajo

/ah-BAH-hoh//aˈβaxo/

AdverbA1General
Use 'abajo' when referring to a general lower position or direction, often indicating 'down' or 'downstairs'.
A child standing on the peak of a grassy hill, gazing downwards towards a small red house nestled far below in the valley.

Examples

El gato está abajo.

The cat is downstairs.

Mira hacia abajo y verás las flores.

Look down and you'll see the flowers.

Vivimos en el piso de abajo.

We live on the floor below.

Abajo vs. Debajo de

Think of 'abajo' as the general idea of 'down' or 'downstairs'. Use 'debajo de' when you mean 'under' a specific object. For example, 'El perro está abajo' (The dog is downstairs), but 'El perro está debajo de la mesa' (The dog is under the table).

Confusing 'Abajo' with 'Bajo'

Mistake: “El libro está abajo la mesa.”

Correction: Say 'El libro está bajo la mesa' or '...debajo de la mesa.' 'Bajo' and 'debajo de' act like the English word 'under' and need to be followed by the thing you are under. 'Abajo' usually stands on its own.

debajo

/de-BA-ho//deˈbaxo/

AdverbA1General
Use 'debajo' specifically when indicating something is physically located under or beneath another object, often followed by 'de'.
A simple colorful storybook illustration showing a small red ball placed directly underneath a large, simple wooden box.

Examples

El gato está debajo de la mesa.

The cat is under the table.

Encontré mis llaves debajo del sofá.

I found my keys underneath the sofa.

Vive en el piso de debajo.

He lives on the floor below.

The 'debajo de' Team

When you want to say 'under something', you almost always need to add 'de' right after 'debajo'. Think of 'debajo de' as a single unit that means 'underneath'.

Forgetting 'de'

Mistake: “El libro está debajo la cama.”

Correction: El libro está debajo **de** la cama. You need 'de' to connect 'debajo' to the thing it's under. It's like saying 'under of the bed'.

Confusing 'debajo' and 'bajo'

Mistake: “'Bajo' can sometimes mean 'under', but 'debajo de' is your best friend for physical locations. 'Bajo' is often used for more abstract ideas.”

Correction: For physical objects, stick with 'debajo de' to be safe. Use 'bajo' for things like 'bajo control' (under control) or 'bajo cero' (below zero).

bajo

/BA-ho//ˈbaxo/

PrepositionA2General
Use 'bajo' as a preposition to indicate a level, rank, or being under something in a more abstract or hierarchical sense, or physically under (like under a blanket).
A small house cat sleeping comfortably underneath a simple wooden bed frame, illustrating the spatial preposition 'under'.

Examples

El gato duerme bajo la cama.

The cat sleeps under the bed.

La temperatura está bajo cero.

The temperature is below zero.

El documento está bajo llave.

The document is under lock and key.

Always Stays the Same

When 'bajo' means 'under', it's a preposition. This means it never changes. It's always just 'bajo', no matter what word comes after it.

'Bajo' vs. 'Debajo de'

Mistake: “El libro está bajo de la mesa.”

Correction: El libro está bajo la mesa. While 'debajo de' needs the 'de', 'bajo' does not. Think of 'bajo' as a one-word version of 'debajo de'.

continuación

Noun (in fixed phrase)B1Formal
Use 'a continuación' in the fixed phrase 'a continuación' to mean 'next' or 'following', referring to something that will appear or be said further down.

Examples

A continuación, el presidente dará su discurso.

Next, the president will give his speech.

Abajo vs. Debajo

The most common confusion is between 'abajo' and 'debajo'. Remember that 'debajo' almost always needs 'de' and refers to a specific physical placement under an object. 'Abajo' is more general, indicating a lower level or direction without necessarily specifying what is directly above it.

Related Translations

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