sube la ventanilla
/sube la bentaniʝa/from spelling rules
To roll up the window in Spanish, you say sube la ventanilla.
This phrase is used specifically to describe the action of closing a car window by moving the glass upward.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb subir (to raise/go up) and ventanilla (small window/car window).
Which one should you use?
You may also see the phrase sube la ventana used to mean 'raise the window' or 'roll up the window'. The infinitive form subir la ventanilla is used when you are stating the action itself rather than giving a command.
How does it change in a sentence?
Sube la ventanilla is the informal imperative form used when giving a command to someone you know well. Suba la ventanilla is the formal imperative form. The form subir la ventanilla is the infinitive.
How do you pronounce it?
/sube la bentaniʝa/
Did you know?
- Spanish uses the same verb subir for 'rolling up' a window as it does for 'turning up' the volume of the car radio.
- The opposite of sube la ventanilla is baja la ventanilla, using the verb bajar which also means 'to descend' or 'to get off' a bus.
- The word ventanilla is a diminutive of ventana, meaning 'little window'. In Spanish, this specific form is used for car windows, ticket booths and small service hatches.
Examples in context
- Suba la ventana, por favor. Está entrando mucho aire frío.Please roll up the window. A lot of cold air is coming in.
- Suba esa ventana, por favor.Roll up that window, please.
- Sube la ventanilla, por favor.Roll up the window, please.
- Sube la ventanilla porque está lloviendo.Roll up the window because it is raining.
- Si hace calor, no sube la ventanilla.If it is hot, he doesn't roll up the window.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are driving in a car during a storm.
- AlejandroSofía, sube la ventanilla, entra mucha agua.Sofía, roll up the window, a lot of water is coming in.
- SofíaEstá bien, Alejandro, lo haré ahora.Okay, Alejandro, I will do it now.
- AlejandroGracias, ahora ya no entra aire frío.Thanks, now the cold air is not coming in anymore.
- SofíaDe nada, espero que se detenga la lluvia.You're welcome, I hope the rain stops.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, ventanilla, CC BY-SA 4.0.
