Eres bajo
/eɾes baxo/from spelling rules
The phrase "you're short" in Spanish is Eres bajo.
This phrase is used to describe a person's physical height.
Which one should you use?
Use Eres bajo to describe a person's physical height, whereas Eres corto would imply being short on time, money or patience.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, especially Mexico, the informal term Eres chaparro/a. is used to describe someone's short stature.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are speaking to a woman, the adjective must change to the feminine form baja.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use Eres corto to describe height, but in Spanish, corto refers to length or duration, not human stature.
Did you know?
- The Mexican term chaparro originates from the word for a specific type of short, sturdy shrub.
- The verb eres is a linguistic anomaly because it is a direct descendant of the Latin future tense 'eris', rather than the standard Latin present tense.
- Using corto to describe a person's intelligence can be a common slang usage in some Spanish-speaking regions, implying someone is 'short' of wits.
Examples in context
- Siempre me has parecido bajito/a, pero eso no cambia lo interesante y talentoso/a que eres.You have always seemed short to me, but that doesn't change how interesting and talented you are.
- Aunque eres bajo/a, eso no impide que tengas una gran personalidad y una sonrisa que ilumina la habitación.Although you're short, it doesn't stop you from having a great personality and a smile that lights up the room.
- Eres bajo para tu edad.You're short for your age.
- Sé que eres bajo, pero eres muy rápido.I know you're short, but you are very fast.
- No te sientas mal porque eres bajo.Don't feel bad because you're short.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are talking about their height while playing basketball.
- SofíaEres bajo para un jugador de baloncesto.You're short for a basketball player.
- AlejandroSí, lo sé, pero soy muy ágil.Yes, I know, but I am very agile.
- SofíaTienes razón, Alejandro.You're right, Alejandro.
- AlejandroGracias, Sofía.Thanks, Sofía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bajo, eres, CC BY-SA 4.0.
