How to Say "to jump" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to jump” is “saltar” — use 'saltar' for general physical jumping, like leaping or hopping.
Use 'saltar' for general physical jumping, like leaping or hopping.
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Use 'tirar' when referring to jumping or throwing oneself from a significant height, especially into water.
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Use 'botar' for the action of bouncing or springing up, often used for objects like balls or children's playful jumps.
Learn more →sahl-TAHRsalˈtaɾ
Examples
Los niños saltaban en el trampolín toda la tarde.
The children were jumping on the trampoline all afternoon.
Tuve que saltar una valla para entrar al jardín.
I had to jump a fence to enter the garden.
Simple Action Verb
'Saltar' is a simple, regular verb. You can use it in all tenses just like 'hablar' (to speak) without worrying about stem changes.
tee-RAHRtiˈɾaɾ
Examples
El clavadista se tiró a la piscina desde diez metros.
The diver threw himself into the pool from ten meters.
Después de la caminata, me tiré en el sofá.
After the walk, I threw myself down on the couch.
No te tires por esa pendiente, es peligroso.
Don't jump down that slope, it is dangerous.
The 'Se' Ending
When 'tirar' ends in 'se' (tirarse), it means the action is happening to the person doing it (like 'I throw myself'). You must use a matching pronoun: 'me tiro', 'te tiras', 'se tira', etc.
Omitting the Pronoun
Mistake: “Saying 'Yo tiré' when you mean 'I dove' or 'I lay down'.”
Correction: If the action is done to yourself, you need the pronoun: 'Yo me tiré' (I dove/lay down).
bo-TARboˈtaɾ
Examples
La pelota bota muy alto.
The ball bounces very high.
Tienes que botar el balón mientras corres.
You have to dribble (bounce) the ball while you run.
The 'Re' prefix
While 'botar' means to bounce, 'rebotar' specifically emphasizes the ball hitting a surface and coming back.
General Jump vs. Specific Actions
Learners often confuse 'saltar' with 'tirar' or 'botar'. Remember that 'saltar' is the default for any physical jump. Use 'tirar' only for jumping from a height, and 'botar' specifically for bouncing or springing up.
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