ella es baja
/eʝa es baxa/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'she is short' is translated into Spanish as ella es baja.
This phrase is used to describe a person who does not have a tall physical stature.
Which one should you use?
While baja specifically refers to height, the term pequeña refers to overall size or scale and can sometimes be used to describe a person's stature in a more general sense.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the term chaparrita is used to refer to someone being short. In Argentina, the word petisa is used to describe someone who is short.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective baja must agree in gender with the subject ella, so the feminine ending -a is used instead of the masculine -o.
Did you know?
- The word baja can also be used as a noun meaning 'a casualty' or 'a loss' in a military or medical context.
- The English word 'bass', as used in music, and the Spanish word baja share a common ancestor in the Latin word 'bassus'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a woman chaparrita can be used as a term of endearment regardless of her actual height.
Examples in context
- Ella es bajita, pero muy encantadora.She is short, but very charming.
- Mi amiga es chaparrita pero muy simpática.My friend is short but very friendly.
- Mi hermana es petisa, pero tiene mucho carisma.My sister is short, but she has a lot of charisma.
- Maria es baja de estatura, pero siempre destaca por su inteligencia y carisma.Maria is short, but she always stands out for her intelligence and charisma.
- Ella es baja, pero es muy rápida.She is short, but she is very fast.
- Ella es baja.She is short.
- No te preocupes, ella es baja y muy rápida.Don't worry, she is short and very fast.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are talking about a new colleague.
- Javier¿Cómo es la nueva jefa?What is the new boss like?
- SofíaElla es baja y tiene el pelo corto.She is short and has short hair.
- Javier¿Es amable con los empleados?Is she kind to the employees?
- SofíaSí, Sofía dice que es muy simpática.Yes, Sofía says she is very nice.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries baja, ella, es, CC BY-SA 4.0.
