arriba
/aˈriba/
arriba is the Spanish word for up or above.
The word arriba is used to indicate a higher position or a direction moving upward. It can also function as an interjection, such as ¡Arriba!, which serves as a rallying cry meaning "Up with it!", "Go!" or "Rise up!" to encourage someone. Its antonym is abajo, which means down or below.
Which one should you use?
The standard form is arriba, but you may encounter the diminutive arribita used informally to refer to something being "up" or "above." In certain contexts, the phrase arriba de is used to indicate a position relative to an object, meaning "above" or "on top of."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic, the abbreviated version pa'rriba is frequently used in informal speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to indicate a position relative to a specific object, you should follow arriba with the preposition de, forming the phrase arriba de.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈriba/
Did you know?
- The word arriba actually traces its roots back to the Latin word for a river 'bank' or 'coast', specifically 'ripam'.
- The phrase estamos arriba can be used in a business or social context to mean that someone is currently in a position of power or is 'on top' of their game.
- The word arriba is often used in the phrase de arriba abajo to mean 'thoroughly' or 'from top to bottom' when describing a search or a cleaning task.
Examples in context
- Vamos pa'rriba en el ascensor.Let's go up in the elevator.
- ¡Arriba las manos! Esto es un atraco.Hands up! This is a robbery.
- Mira hacia arriba.Look up.
- El gato está arriba de la mesa.The cat is on top of the table.
- Mira hacia arriba para ver las estrellas.Look up to see the stars.
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are in a living room looking for a lost remote.
- Sofía¿Has visto el control remoto, Javier?Have you seen the remote, Javier?
- JavierNo, pero busca arriba del sofá.No, but look on top of the sofa.
- Sofía¡Ah, aquí está arriba de los cojines!Ah, here it is on top of the cushions!
- JavierQué bueno que lo encontraste, Sofía.I'm glad you found it, Sofia.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry arriba, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arriba, CC BY-SA 4.0.
