Inklingo

How to Say "jump" in Spanish

English → Spanish

salto

/sahl-toh//ˈsalto/

nounA1general
Use 'salto' for a general physical leap or a sudden movement, often expressing emotion like joy or surprise.
A bright green frog is suspended mid-air above a large green lily pad, demonstrating a jump.

Examples

Dio un salto de alegría al ver el regalo.

She gave a jump of joy when she saw the gift.

El atleta hizo un salto impresionante sobre la valla.

The athlete made an impressive leap over the hurdle.

Making the action

To say someone performed the action, you use the verb 'dar' (to give): 'dar un salto' (to give a jump), instead of 'hacer un salto' (to make a jump).

bote

BOH-tay/ˈbo.te/

nounB2general
Use 'bote' specifically for a quick spring or bounce, typically referring to objects like balls or, less commonly, a very short, quick jump.
A brightly colored rubber ball aggressively rebounding upward immediately after hitting a flat wooden floor, indicating motion.

Examples

El balón dio un bote muy alto y salió de la cancha.

The ball took a very high bounce and went off the court.

No puedes dejar que el bote de la pelota muera.

You can't let the bounce of the ball die.

Related Verb

This meaning comes directly from the verb 'botar', which means 'to bounce' or 'to throw away'.

Salto vs. Bote

Learners often confuse 'salto' and 'bote' because both can describe a type of jump. Remember that 'salto' is the versatile term for most human jumps, while 'bote' is for bounces or very quick, object-like springs.

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