Inklingo

How to Say "go up" in Spanish

English → Spanish

suban

SOO-bahn/'su.βan/

verbA2formal
Use 'suban' when giving a formal command to multiple people (ustedes) to ascend to a higher level or location, such as a floor in a building.
A high quality simple colorful storybook illustration showing three children enthusiastically climbing a winding path up a small green hill.

Examples

¡Suban al segundo piso para buscar sus libros!

Go up to the second floor to get your books!

¡Suban al tercer piso para la reunión!

Go up to the third floor for the meeting!

Señores, suban sus maletas al tren.

Gentlemen, bring your suitcases onto the train.

Suban el volumen, por favor, no oigo nada.

Turn up the volume, please, I can't hear anything.

Formal Plural Command

"Suban" is the command form used when addressing a group of people formally (like saying 'You all, go up'). It comes from the 'ustedes' form of the imperative mood.

Negative Commands

To tell a group NOT to go up, you just add 'no' in front: '¡No suban aquí!' (Don't go up here!).

Confusing Formal and Informal

Mistake: “Using 'suban' when speaking informally to friends in Spain (where 'vosotros' is used).”

Correction: For informal plural commands in Spain, use 'subid'. In Latin America, 'suban' is used for both formal and informal plural commands.

súbete

verbA1informal
Use 'súbete' when informally commanding a single person (tú) to get on or climb into something, like a vehicle or onto a higher surface.

Examples

¡Súbete al coche, que llegamos tarde!

Get in the car, we're late!

Formal vs. Informal Commands

Learners often confuse 'suban' and 'súbete' by using the formal plural command 'suban' when addressing a single person informally, or vice-versa. Remember 'suban' is for 'ustedes' (plural, formal or informal depending on region) and 'súbete' is specifically for 'tú' (singular, informal).

Related Translations

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