Inklingo

How to Say "to skip" in Spanish

English → Spanish

saltar

sahl-TAHRsalˈtaɾ

verbB1general
Use 'saltar' when you are intentionally omitting a step, a section, or a part of something you are reading or doing.
A small, brown rabbit hopping over a sequence of stepping stones, clearly bypassing the middle stone to land on the third stone.

Examples

Si lees el resumen, puedes saltar el prólogo.

If you read the summary, you can skip the prologue.

No puedes saltar las instrucciones o no funcionará.

You can't skip the instructions or it won't work.

Using 'Omitir' vs. 'Saltar'

Mistake: “Using 'omitir' for a physical skip (e.g., 'omitir una valla').”

Correction: 'Omitir' is better for formal documents or information. 'Saltar' is used for skipping physical things (like a line in a book or a step in a process). 'Saltar el desayuno' is more natural than 'omitir el desayuno'.

omitir

oh-mee-teeromiˈtiɾ

verbB1general
Use 'omitir' when you are deliberately leaving out or ignoring a specific detail, item, or step in a process or explanation.
A row of colorful apples with one empty space where an apple should be.

Examples

Puedes omitir los detalles aburridos de la historia.

You can skip the boring details of the story.

Omití un ingrediente importante por accidente.

I left out an important ingredient by accident.

Es mejor no omitir ninguna información en el contrato.

It's better not to leave out any information in the contract.

A Regular Friend

Unlike many common Spanish verbs, omitir is completely regular. It follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ir.

Followed by Actions

When you want to say you 'skipped doing' something, you can follow omitir directly with a second verb in its base form (infinitive).

Omitir vs. Olvidar

Mistake: “Using 'olvidar' when you mean you intentionally left something off a list.”

Correction: Use 'olvidar' for forgetting it exists, but 'omitir' for the physical act of leaving it out of a document or speech.

faltar

fal-TARfalˈtaɾ

verbB1general
Use 'faltar' specifically when you are intentionally not attending or showing up for school, work, or an appointment.
An empty wooden school desk in a classroom full of students.

Examples

Juan faltó a clase ayer.

Juan missed class yesterday.

No puedes faltar al trabajo sin avisar.

You cannot skip work without giving notice.

Nunca falto a mis citas médicas.

I never miss my medical appointments.

Use 'A' for Events

When you miss an event, you must use the word 'a' afterward: 'faltar a la fiesta', 'faltar al trabajo'.

Forgetting the 'A'

Mistake: “Falté la clase.”

Correction: Falté a la clase. (Always include 'a' before the place or event you missed.)

comer

koh-mehrkoˈmeɾ

verbB2figurative
Use 'comer' figuratively when someone speaks so quickly that they seem to swallow or 'skip' their words.
A person speaking quickly, with colorful, abstract shapes representing sounds or words being sucked back into their mouth.

Examples

Habla tan rápido que se come las palabras.

He speaks so fast that he swallows his words.

En esta región, la gente se come la 's' final.

In this region, people drop the final 's'.

Te comiste un paso importante en las instrucciones.

You skipped an important step in the instructions.

Confusing 'saltar' and 'omitir'

Learners often confuse 'saltar' and 'omitir' because both mean to leave something out. Use 'saltar' for a more general omission of a step or part, and 'omitir' when you are specifically ignoring a detail or element.

Related Translations

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