How to Say "to lower" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to lower” is “bajar” — use 'bajar' when you are physically moving something to a lower position or reducing the intensity/level of something abstract like sound or speed.
bajar
ba-HARbaˈxaɾ
Examples
Por favor, baja la televisión.
Please, lower the television (volume/level).
Por favor, baja la caja de la estantería.
Please, take down the box from the shelf.
Necesitamos bajar las cortinas para limpiarlas.
We need to lower the curtains to clean them.
Por favor, baja el volumen de la música, está muy alto.
Please, lower the volume of the music, it's too high.
Confusing 'bajar' and 'reducir'
Mistake: “Using 'reducir' for volume/light: 'Voy a reducir la luz.'”
Correction: Use 'bajar' for levels and intensities, as in 'Voy a bajar la luz/el volumen.' 'Reducir' is better for size or complexity.
rebajar
re-ba-HARreβaˈxaɾ
Examples
La tienda va a rebajar todos los abrigos.
The store is going to lower (discount) all the coats.
Han rebajado los precios de los zapatos.
They have lowered the prices of the shoes.
Quiero rebajar tres kilos antes del verano.
I want to lose (reduce) three kilos before the summer.
El arquitecto tuvo que rebajar la altura del techo.
The architect had to lower the height of the ceiling.
Bajar vs. Rebajar
Use 'bajar' for general downward movement (going downstairs). Use 'rebajar' specifically when you are making a value, size, or level smaller than it was before.
Weight Loss Confusion
Mistake: “Quiero bajar de peso.”
Correction: Both 'bajar de peso' and 'rebajar' are correct, but 'rebajar' is often used alone as a verb for slimming down: 'Estoy rebajando'.
agachar
ah-gah-CHARa.ɣaˈtʃaɾ
Examples
Agachó la cabeza para no ser visto.
He lowered his head so as not to be seen.
Tienes que agachar la cabeza para no golpearte.
You have to lower your head so you don't hit yourself.
El perro agacha las orejas cuando está asustado.
The dog lowers its ears when it is scared.
Agachó la mirada porque le daba vergüenza.
He looked down (lowered his gaze) because he was embarrassed.
Using 'the' instead of 'my'
In Spanish, when you lower your own body part, you usually say 'la cabeza' (the head) instead of 'mi cabeza' (my head).
Simple 'AR' patterns
This word follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in 'ar,' so if you know how to conjugate 'hablar,' you already know how to conjugate this!
Confusing it with 'bajar'
Mistake: “Agachar los precios.”
Correction: Bajar los precios. 'Agachar' is almost always for physical bending or lowering parts of the body.
Bajar vs. Rebajar
Related Translations
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