bajar el volumen
/baxaɾ el bolumen/from spelling rules
To say 'lower the volume' in Spanish, use bajar el volumen.
The phrase is used to request that the loudness of a sound, such as from a radio or television, be reduced. You can use the imperative forms like baja el volumen to give a direct command or baje el volumen to be more polite.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb bajar literally means 'to lower' or 'to go down'.
Which one should you use?
The opposite of bajar el volumen is subir el volumen, which means 'to raise the volume' using the verb subir (to raise/go up).
How does it change in a sentence?
In informal spoken Spanish, it is common to add the indirect object pronoun le to the verb to refer to the device or the sound itself, resulting in the phrase bájale el volumen.
Did you know?
- While bajar means 'to lower', it is also used in Spanish to describe 'getting off' a bus, train or bike.
- The word volumen shares the same Latin root as 'volume' in the sense of a book. It originally referred to a scroll or a roll of parchment.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking someone to bajar el volumen may be accompanied by a gesture of palms facing down and moving them slowly toward the floor.
Examples in context
- Disminuya el volumen del micrófono, por favorLower the microphone volume, please.
- ¿Puedes bajar el volumen de la televisión, por favor?Can you lower the volume of the television, please?
- Necesito bajar el volumen de la televisión.I need to lower the volume of the television.
- Puedes bajar el volumen de la radio, ¿sí?Can you lower the volume of the radio, please?
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are in the living room while watching a movie.
- SofíaDaniel, ¿puedes bajar el volumen?Daniel, can you lower the volume?
- DanielSí, está muy fuerte.Yes, it is very loud.
- SofíaGracias, ahora puedo oír mejor.Thank you, now I can hear better.
- DanielDe nada, Sofía.You're welcome, Sofía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bajar, el, volumen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
