bajo
masculine, height
To describe a person who is not tall, Spanish uses bajo for a man and baja for a woman. A softer, friendlier word is bajito. It is also called de baja estatura.
Meaning: not tall (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| bajo | masculine, height |
| de baja estatura | neutral, polite |
| baja | feminine, height |
| bajito | diminutive, friendly |
You say Es bajo or Es baja with the verb ser. The phrase de baja estatura is a careful, neutral way to say the same thing.
Which one should you use?
Bajo also means "low" for things, as in un techo bajo. For a short object that is not long, Spanish often uses corto, as in una falda corta.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico chaparro is a common casual word for a short person. It can sound teasing, so use it only with friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective agrees with the person: bajo, baja, bajos, bajas.
Did you know?
- Spanish uses bajo for both "short" and "low", so context tells you whether it describes a person or a thing.
Examples in context
- Mi hermano es más bajo que yo.My brother is shorter than me.
- Ella es baja, pero juega muy bien al baloncesto.She is short, but she plays basketball very well.
- Mi abuelo es bajito.My grandfather is smallish.
Example conversation
Elena describes her cousin Pablo to her friend Rosa before a party.
- Rosa¿Cómo es tu primo Pablo?What is your cousin Pablo like?
- ElenaEs bajo y tiene el pelo negro.He is short and has black hair.
- RosaEntonces lo reconoceré fácil.Then I will recognize him easily.
