bajo de estatura
/baxo de estatuɾa/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'short in height' is expressed in Spanish as bajo de estatura.
The phrase is used to describe a person who is smaller than average in height.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase bajo de estatura is composed of bajo (low/short), de (of) and estatura (height/stature), literally meaning 'low in height'.
Which one should you use?
While bajo de estatura is a precise way to say 'short in height', simply using the adjective bajo is much more common in everyday conversation. Additionally, de estatura baja can be used as a slightly more formal way to say 'short stature'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the words chaparro or chaparra are commonly used to describe someone who is short in height.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the person being described. For example, use baja de estatura when referring to a female.
Did you know?
- In some regions, the term estatura is used specifically for a person's height, whereas altura is preferred for the height of buildings or mountains.
- While bajo describes height, it also means 'low' in terms of volume, so saying someone is bajo without context could occasionally be confused with their voice being quiet.
- The word bajo is a cognate of the English words 'base' and 'bass'.
Examples in context
- Mi amigo es bajo de estaturaMy friend is short in height
- Es un hombre de estatura bajaHe is a man of short stature
- Ella es bajita pero muy simpáticaShe is short but very nice
- ¡Mirá a ese petiso!Look at that short guy!
- ¡Ay qué petiso sos! No alcanzo a verte entre la multitudOh, how short you are! I can't see you in the crowd
- Mi hermana es chaparraMy sister is short
- Mi hermano es bastante bajo de estatura, pero eso no le impide destacarse en el baloncestoMy brother is quite short, but that doesn't stop him from excelling in basketball
- Él es bajo de estatura.He is short in height.
- Mi hermano es bajo de estatura.My brother is short in height.
- No soy bajo de estatura, soy promedio.I am not short in height, I am average.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are talking about a new coworker.
- LucíaCómo es el nuevo empleado?What is the new employee like?
- AlejandroEs amable y bajo de estatura.He is kind and short in height.
- LucíaCreo que es parecido a mi primo.I think he is similar to my cousin.
- AlejandroSí, se parecen mucho.Yes, they look a lot alike.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bajo, de, estatura, CC BY-SA 4.0.
