Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| saltar | /salˈtaɾ/ | |
| brincar | /bɾinˈkaɾ/ | |
| saltimbanquear | /saltimbankeaɾ/ (from spelling rules) | Latin America |
The primary way to express the action of propelling oneself upward to become airborne is with the verb saltar. Related nouns like salto, pedicoj and brinco can be used to describe a single instance of jumping or leaping.
Which one should you use?
While saltar is the standard, neutral term for jumping or leaping, brincar is often used to describe smaller, more repetitive or playful movements, similar to hopping or bouncing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
saltar is the standard and more formal or neutral term. For a more formal emphasis on the act of performing a jump, you can use the phrase realizar un salto.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, the verb saltimbanquear is used to describe the specific actions of an acrobat or a street performer.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun salto is derived from the verb saltar and refers to a single instance of jumping. Similarly, the masculine noun brinco is derived from the verb brincar and refers to a small jump or a hop.
How do you pronounce it?
/salˈtaɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb brincar was borrowed from Portuguese and is rooted in the Latin word 'vinculum', which means 'bond' or 'chain'.
- In Spanish, the act of skipping a turn in a game or omitting a part of a text is expressed using the verb saltar.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, the word brinco is used to describe a sudden, small jump, but it can also colloquially refer to a 'leap' in logic or a sudden change in a situation.
Examples in context
- Vi al hombre saltar.I saw the man jump.This sentence uses saltar to show the action of jumping.Tatoeba #1862538 by hayastan, translation #254543 by CK
- Me da miedo saltar la zanja.I am afraid to jump over the ditch.This sentence uses saltar to describe jumping over an object.Tatoeba #1224599 by marcelostockle, translation #19174 by CC
- ¿A qué altura puedes saltar?How high can you jump?This sentence uses saltar to ask about the height of a jump.Tatoeba #1319654 by massama, translation #16471 by CK
- El atleta dio un gran saltoThe athlete took a big jump
- El bailarín realizó un salto espectacularThe dancer performed a spectacular jump
- Los niños brincaron en los charcosThe kids jumped in the puddles
- Ella saltó sobre el charco con habilidadShe skillfully jumped over the puddle
- Siempre me ha gustado saltar en camas elásticasI've always enjoyed jumping on trampolines
- Los competidores brincaron con entusiasmo en el concursoThe competitors eagerly jumped in the competition
- No dejes de dar un salto para alcanzar el jugueteDon't forget to take a jump to reach the toy
- 36 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are at a swimming pool.
- Daniel¡Mira cómo puedo saltar!Look how I can jump!
- LucíaTen cuidado, Daniel.Be careful, Daniel.
- DanielVoy a saltar ahora.I am going to jump now.
- Lucía¡Qué salto tan alto!What a high jump!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “jump” translations and entries saltar, brincar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries brincar, saltar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
