The Many Ways to Use Spanish Bajo in a Sentence

Bajo is a common Spanish preposition, adjective, and adverb that means being low in some way, either figuratively or literally or under something. Also,  bajo  is used in common idioms  usually as a preposition. Bajo Used as an Adjective As an adjective, common translations include low or short, and bajo can also be used to indicate contemptibility or lack of intensity. Spanish Sentence English Translation Mi prima es baja para su edad. My cousin is short for her age. No es necesario tratar esta enfermedad de bajo riesgo con quimioterapia. It is not necessary to treat this low-risk illness with chemotherapy. El valle bajo es rico en historia. The low valley is rich in history. Tenemos problemas de baja calidad de la seà ±al inalà ¡mbrica. We have problems with poor quality of the wireless signal. Alberto cayà ³ en los mà ¡s bajos pecados durante los dos aà ±os. Alberto fell into the basest sins during the two years. La clase baja sufre las consecuencias de su reforma polà ­tica. The lower class is suffering the consequences of his political reform. Son capaces de los mà ¡s bajos actos de violencia. They are capable of the vilest acts of violence. La presià ³n sanguà ­nea baja puede ser un signo de enfermedad. Low blood pressure can be a sign of sickness. Bajo as an Adverb Although more commonly used as an adjective, bajo can be used as an adverb that means quietly or softly. For example, Si  habla  bajo, es  necesario  elevar  volumen  del  micrà ³fono, which means, If you speak softly, you need to turn up the microphone volume. Another way bajo can be used as an adverb is when describing something falling or flying low as in low to the ground. For example, El pà ¡jaro  volaba  muy  bajo, which means, The bird was flying very low. Bajo as a Preposition Bajo can serve as a preposition and can almost always be translated as under. Spanish Sentence English Sentence El gato està ¡ bajo la cama. The cat is under the bed. La vida bajo el mar es muy difà ­cil. Life undersea is very difficult. Un barco mercante encallà ³ bajo un puente. The merchant ship ran aground under a bridge. Los compresores principales està ¡n bajo el coche. The main compressors are under the car. Correr bajo la lluvia es mà ¡s gratificante que hacerlo en seco. Running in the rain is more rewarding than doing it when it's dry. Bajo Used in Idioms or Borrowed Phrases Bajo can also be a preposition with an indefinite meaning when it is used as an idiom or expression. Many of these figurative expressions correspond to similar ones in English, some of which are likely calques. A  calque or  loan translation  is a  word  or  phrase  borrowed from another  language  by  literal, word-for-word translation. Spanish Expression English Translation bajo arresto under arrest bajo circunstancias normales under normal circumstances bajo condicià ³n de que under condition that bajo construccià ³n under construction bajo control under control bajo cubierto undercover bajo fianza on bail bajo la influencia under the influence bajo investigacià ³n under investigation bajo juramento under oath bajo la mesa under the table bajo ningà ºn concepto in no conceivable way bajo palabra on parole bajo peso underweight bajo presià ³n under pressure bajo protesta under protest Words Related to Bajo Bajar, is a related verb to bajo, which often means to lower or to get down. Related adverbs are abajo and debajo, which often mean underneath, or down there.