How to Say "lower" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “lower” is “bajar” — use 'bajar' when you want to physically lower something, decrease volume or temperature, or reduce expectations, often as a command or in the subjunctive mood..
Examples
Por favor, baja la música.
Please, lower the music.
reducir
reh-doo-SEER/reðuˈθiɾ/
Examples
El gobierno intenta reducir la inflación.
The government is trying to reduce inflation.
Tenemos que reducir los gastos del viaje.
We have to reduce the trip expenses.
Si reduces la velocidad, llegaremos tarde.
If you reduce the speed, we will arrive late.
El doctor me aconsejó reducir el consumo de sal.
The doctor advised me to cut down on salt consumption.
The 'Z-C' Change
In the 'yo' form of the present tense, 'reducir' changes the 'c' to 'z' before the 'o': 'reduzco'. This helps the sound stay consistent.
The 'J' Past Tense
In the simple past (preterite), 'reducir' uses a 'j' sound, like 'reduje' (I reduced). This is shared by many verbs ending in -ducir.
Forgetting the 'Z' in Present Tense
Mistake: “Yo reduco los impuestos.”
Correction: Yo reduzco los impuestos. (Remember the 'z' in the first person singular and all of the special wish/command forms.)
bajar
/BAH-hen//ˈba.xen/
Examples
Es importante que bajen los precios pronto.
It's important that they lower the prices soon.
Es urgente que bajen los precios de la gasolina.
It is urgent that they lower the gas prices. (Subjunctive use after 'es urgente que')
¡Bajen la voz! Estamos en una biblioteca. (Ustedes, formal command)
Lower your voices! We are in a library.
El director exige que bajen el volumen del equipo.
The director demands that they turn down the volume of the equipment.
Action on an Object
In this sense, 'bajen' means the subject (you all/they) is performing the action of lowering something else (the object), like prices or lights.
reducir
/rreh-DOO-seh//reˈðuse/
Examples
El ejercicio reduce el riesgo de enfermedades.
Exercise reduces the risk of diseases.
¡Reduce la velocidad, vas muy rápido!
Slow down, you're going too fast!
Esta máquina reduce el tamaño del papel.
This machine reduces the size of the paper.
A double-duty word
The word 'reduce' is used in two main ways: to state a fact about someone else (He reduces) or to give a direct command to a friend (Reduce!).
The 'J' in the past
Even though 'reduce' looks normal now, when you talk about the past, it gets a 'j' sound: 'Él redujo' (He reduced).
The 'I' form mismatch
Mistake: “yo reduzco (not yo reduzo)”
Correction: When saying 'I reduce', you need to add a 'z' before the 'c' to keep the sound right: say 'reduzco'.
inferior
een-feh-ree-OR/infeˈɾjoɾ/
Examples
Este producto es de calidad inferior.
This product is of inferior quality.
Esta calidad de tela es inferior a la que usamos antes.
This quality of fabric is inferior to the one we used before.
Mi oficina está en el piso inferior.
My office is on the lower floor.
No te sientas inferior solo porque no sabes bailar.
Don't feel inferior just because you can't dance.
Always Compare with 'a'
When comparing two things, use 'inferior a' (inferior to) before the thing you are comparing against: 'Mi coche es inferior al tuyo' (My car is inferior to yours).
Using 'que' for Comparison
Mistake: “Este producto es inferior que el otro.”
Correction: Este producto es inferior al otro. (Use 'a' when comparing with 'inferior' or 'superior'.)
Verb vs. Adjective: Lowering vs. Being Lower
Related Translations
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