How to Say "down" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “down” is “abajo” — use 'abajo' when referring to a physical direction or location, indicating movement towards a lower place or simply being in a lower position..
abajo
/ah-BAH-hoh//aˈβaxo/
Examples
El libro está abajo en la mesa.
The book is down on the table.
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.
deprimido
deh-pree-MEE-doh/de.pɾiˈmi.ðo/
Examples
Ella se siente deprimida hoy.
She is feeling down today.
Después de la noticia, Juan estuvo deprimido por semanas.
After the news, Juan was depressed for weeks.
Si te sientes deprimida, es importante buscar ayuda.
If you feel depressed, it's important to seek help.
No es que esté deprimido, solo estoy cansado.
It's not that I'm down, I'm just tired.
Adjective Agreement is Key
Since this is an adjective, you must make sure it matches the person you are describing: 'Estoy deprimido' (if you are male) or 'Estamos deprimidas' (if the group is all female).
Use with 'Estar'
You almost always use 'deprimido' with the verb 'estar' because it describes a temporary (or changing) emotional state, not a permanent characteristic.
Using 'Ser'
Mistake: “Soy deprimido.”
Correction: Estoy deprimido. Using 'ser' (Soy) would suggest that being depressed is a defining, permanent part of your personality, which is generally not the intended meaning.
bajado
bah-HAH-doh/baˈxaðo/
Examples
La persiana está bajada para que no entre el sol.
The blind is down so the sun doesn't come in.
El telón estaba bajado antes de que empezara la obra.
The curtain was lowered before the play started.
Se nota que está bajado de ánimo hoy.
It's noticeable that he is low-spirited (feeling down) today.
Este es el archivo bajado de la web.
This is the file downloaded from the web.
Adjective Agreement
When used as a describing word (adjective), 'bajado' must match the thing it describes. If you are talking about 'la bandera' (the flag, feminine), you must say 'la bandera bajada'.
Confusing Verbal and Adjective Use
Mistake: “Using the adjective form when forming a perfect tense: *Han bajados los precios.*”
Correction: The verbal form is always 'bajado' with 'haber': *Han bajado los precios.* The price itself has gone down.
pluma
/ploo-mah//'plu.ma/
Examples
El nido estaba hecho de plumas y ramitas.
The nest was made of down and twigs.
Encontré una pluma muy grande en el jardín.
I found a very large feather in the garden.
El pájaro perdió varias plumas durante la muda.
The bird lost several feathers during the molt.
Gender Check
Remember that 'pluma' is always feminine, so you must use 'la pluma' or 'una pluma', and any descriptions (adjectives) must also be feminine.
Confusing Gender
Mistake: “El pluma es blanco.”
Correction: La pluma es blanca. (Make sure the article and adjective match the feminine noun.)
se
/seh//se/
Examples
Se bebió toda la sopa.
He drank all the soup down.
Mi hermano comió la pizza.
My brother ate the pizza.
Mi hermano se comió toda la pizza.
My brother ate up the whole pizza.
Bebió un vaso de agua.
He drank a glass of water.
Adding Extra Flavor
This 'se' doesn't always have a direct translation. It just makes the action feel more complete or personal. It shows the person really got involved in the action.
Overusing It
Mistake: “Se caminó al parque.”
Correction: Caminó al parque. (He walked to the park.) This emphatic 'se' only works with certain verbs, usually ones involving consuming something (like eating, drinking, reading, learning).
Direction vs. Emotion
Related Translations
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