Inklingo

How to Say "download" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “download” is “descarga” — use 'descarga' when referring to the completed act or the resulting file of downloading something digital.

English → Spanish

descarga

des-KAR-gahdesˈkaɾɣa

nounA2
Use 'descarga' when referring to the completed act or the resulting file of downloading something digital.
A blue progress bar on a computer screen filling up with a white arrow pointing down.

Examples

La descarga de la película terminó en cinco minutos.

The movie download finished in five minutes.

Haz clic aquí para iniciar la descarga.

Click here to start the download.

Always Feminine

This word is always feminine. Use 'la descarga' or 'una descarga,' even when talking about computers or heavy machinery.

The Noun vs. The Action

Mistake: “Using 'descargar' when you mean 'descarga'.”

Correction: Use 'descarga' for the thing itself (the file) and 'descargar' for the act of doing it.

baje

BAH-hehˈba.xe

verbB1
Use 'baje' as the present subjunctive form of 'bajar' when you need someone to perform the action of downloading digital files or data.
A simplified cloud icon floating above a flat desktop monitor icon, with a thick, curved downward arrow indicating transfer between them.

Examples

El sistema requiere que baje la última actualización.

The system requires that you download the latest update.

Baje este documento antes de la reunión.

Download this document before the meeting. (Formal command)

Digital Context

While 'descargar' (to unload/download) is also correct, 'bajar' is often the most common and informal way to say 'to download' in Spanish.

bajar

verbB2
Use 'bajar' (in its various conjugated forms like 'bajen') when referring to the action of downloading digital content, often in a subjunctive context.

Examples

Necesito que ellos bajen el archivo antes de la reunión.

I need them to download the file before the meeting.

bajada

ba-HA-dahbaˈxaða

nounB2colloquial
Use 'bajada' colloquially to refer to a summary, abstract, or a short descriptive text, most commonly a sub-headline in journalism, not for digital file downloads.
A large newspaper icon with a bold top section and a smaller block of lines underneath representing a summary.

Examples

El periodista escribió un título llamativo y una bajada informativa.

The journalist wrote a catchy headline and an informative sub-headline.

La bajada de este archivo tardó mucho tiempo.

The download of this file took a long time.

Lee la bajada para entender el resumen de la noticia.

Read the sub-headline to understand the summary of the news story.

Digital Slang

While 'descarga' is the formal word for a computer download, many people say 'bajada' colloquially because you 'lower' (bajar) the file from the cloud.

'Bajada' in Journalism

Mistake: “El resumen debajo del título es el pequeño título.”

Correction: El texto debajo del título es la bajada.

Noun vs. Verb for 'Download'

Learners often confuse 'descarga' (the noun, the file itself or the completed action) with 'bajar'/'baje'/'bajen' (the verb, the action of downloading). Remember 'descarga' is the result or the process, while 'bajar' and its forms refer to the act of doing it.

Related Translations

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