How to Say "goes up" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “goes up” is “sube” — use 'sube' when referring to a present, immediate action of moving upwards (like climbing stairs) or a general, noticeable increase in something like cost or temperature..
sube
/soo-beh//ˈsu.βe/
Examples
Ella sube las escaleras corriendo.
She goes up the stairs running.
¡Sube al coche rápido! Ya es tarde.
Get in the car quickly! It's already late.
¿El ascensor sube o baja?
Is the elevator going up or down?
Cada año, el coste de vida sube mucho.
Every year, the cost of living increases a lot.
Dual Role of 'Sube'
'Sube' can mean either 'He/She/It/You (formal) goes up' (telling you what is happening) OR 'Go up!' (a direct command to 'tú').
Getting into Vehicles
Use 'subir a' when talking about getting into or on a vehicle (subir al coche, subir al tren).
Use with Direct Object
When 'sube' means 'raises' or 'turns up,' it takes a direct object: 'Sube el volumen' (Turn up the volume). The volume is receiving the action.
Confusing Commands
Mistake: “Using 'suba' for the informal command to 'tú'.”
Correction: Use '¡Sube!' for 'tú' commands. '¡Suba!' is the formal command for 'usted'.
Using 'Aumentar' for Volume
Mistake: “Saying 'Aumenta el volumen' (while technically correct).”
Correction: 'Sube el volumen' is much more natural and common when talking about sound or light intensity.
sube
/soo-beh//ˈsu.βe/
Examples
Cada año, el coste de vida sube mucho.
Every year, the cost of living increases a lot.
Ella sube las escaleras corriendo.
She goes up the stairs running.
¡Sube al coche rápido! Ya es tarde.
Get in the car quickly! It's already late.
¿El ascensor sube o baja?
Is the elevator going up or down?
Dual Role of 'Sube'
'Sube' can mean either 'He/She/It/You (formal) goes up' (telling you what is happening) OR 'Go up!' (a direct command to 'tú').
Getting into Vehicles
Use 'subir a' when talking about getting into or on a vehicle (subir al coche, subir al tren).
Use with Direct Object
When 'sube' means 'raises' or 'turns up,' it takes a direct object: 'Sube el volumen' (Turn up the volume). The volume is receiving the action.
Confusing Commands
Mistake: “Using 'suba' for the informal command to 'tú'.”
Correction: Use '¡Sube!' for 'tú' commands. '¡Suba!' is the formal command for 'usted'.
Using 'Aumentar' for Volume
Mistake: “Saying 'Aumenta el volumen' (while technically correct).”
Correction: 'Sube el volumen' is much more natural and common when talking about sound or light intensity.
aumenta
/ow-MEN-tah//awˈmenta/
Examples
El precio de la gasolina aumenta cada mes.
The price of gasoline increases every month.
¡Aumenta la velocidad!
Increase the speed!
Esta lupa aumenta mucho la letra.
This magnifying glass enlarges the text a lot.
Two roles for one word
'Aumenta' can be used to say 'he/she/it increases' OR as a command to tell someone 'Increase!' (like 'Aumenta la velocidad').
Talking about the present
Use this form when you are talking about a general fact or something happening right now with a single person or thing.
Aumenta vs. Aumento
Mistake: “Using 'aumenta' when you mean 'a raise' or 'an increase'.”
Correction: Use 'aumenta' for the action (the verb) and 'un aumento' for the thing (the noun). Say 'El precio aumenta' but 'Recibí un aumento'.
Choosing Between 'Sube' and 'Aumenta'
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