What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the reflexive verb desplazarse (to move oneself) and the prepositional phrase hacia abajo (towards down/downwards).
Which one should you use?
While desplazarse hacia abajo is the standard way to express the action, you can also use bajar as a shorthand for 'scroll down' in informal digital contexts. For touchscreen devices, the informal expression Desliza hacia abajo (slide down) is common. To express the idea of continuing the action, use the informal phrase Sigue desplazando hacia abajo (keep scrolling down).
How does it change in a sentence?
Because the default form desplazarse hacia abajo is reflexive, you must change it when giving commands. To tell someone to 'Scroll down!', use the informal imperative desplázate hacia abajo or the formal imperative desplácese hacia abajo.
Did you know?
- The word hacia comes from the Latin phrase faciem ad, which literally means 'facing towards'.
- In Spanish, the act of scrolling is expressed using the reflexive verb desplazarse, which implies the user is 'moving themselves' through the content.
Examples in context
- Por favor, desplácese hacia abajo para ver más informaciónPlease scroll down to view more information
- Le agradecemos que baje la página para obtener más detallesWe kindly ask you to scroll down for further details
- Haga scroll hacia abajo para continuar con la lecturaScroll down to continue reading
- Solo desliza hacia abajo y verás más contenidoJust slide down and you'll see more content
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries abajo, hacia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
