Inklingo

How to Say "to skip" in Spanish

English → Spanish

saltar

sahl-TAHR/salˈtaɾ/

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

Examples

Podemos saltar el primer capítulo, ya que solo es una introducción.

We can skip the first chapter, as it's just an introduction.

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'.

comer

/koh-mehr//koˈmeɾ/

verbB2general
Use 'comer' when someone is speaking or reading so quickly that they are not articulating words or parts of words clearly, almost as if they are 'swallowing' them.
A person speaking quickly, with colorful, abstract shapes representing sounds or words being sucked back into their mouth.

Examples

Si no vocaliza bien, parece que se come las últimas sílabas.

If he doesn't articulate well, it seems like he swallows the last syllables.

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.

Saltar vs. Comer

Learners often confuse 'saltar' and 'comer' because both imply omission. Remember that 'saltar' is for intentionally leaving something out (like a page or a step), while 'comer' refers to indistinct speech where sounds or words are slurred or missed.

Related Translations

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