Saltar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb saltar means to jump, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Saltar means to jump, and it covers jumping up, jumping over something, skipping rope and jumping for joy. It also appears in expressions such as saltar de alegría and saltarse una clase, to skip a class, and it is a fully regular -ar verb. Like every Spanish verb, saltar changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say salto muy alto en el gimnasio, and in the preterite you say salté por encima del charco. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: saltar
- English: to jump
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: saltando
- Past participle: saltado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + saltado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for saltar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Saltar is fully regular, so the whole verb follows the -ar pattern: salté, saltaba, saltaré.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for saltar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | salto |
| tú | saltas |
| él/ella/Ud. | salta |
| nosotros/as | saltamos |
| vosotros/as | saltáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | saltan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | salté |
| tú | saltaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | saltó |
| nosotros/as | saltamos |
| vosotros/as | saltasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | saltaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | saltaba |
| tú | saltabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | saltaba |
| nosotros/as | saltábamos |
| vosotros/as | saltabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | saltaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | saltaré |
| tú | saltarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | saltará |
| nosotros/as | saltaremos |
| vosotros/as | saltaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | saltarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | saltaría |
| tú | saltarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | saltaría |
| nosotros/as | saltaríamos |
| vosotros/as | saltaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | saltarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he saltado |
| tú | has saltado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha saltado |
| nosotros/as | hemos saltado |
| vosotros/as | habéis saltado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han saltado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había saltado |
| tú | habías saltado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había saltado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos saltado |
| vosotros/as | habíais saltado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían saltado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré saltado |
| tú | habrás saltado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá saltado |
| nosotros/as | habremos saltado |
| vosotros/as | habréis saltado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán saltado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría saltado |
| tú | habrías saltado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría saltado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos saltado |
| vosotros/as | habríais saltado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían saltado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | salte |
| tú | saltes |
| él/ella/Ud. | salte |
| nosotros/as | saltemos |
| vosotros/as | saltéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | salten |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | saltara |
| tú | saltaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | saltara |
| nosotros/as | saltáramos |
| vosotros/as | saltarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | saltaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | salta |
| él/ella/Ud. | salte |
| nosotros/as | saltemos |
| vosotros/as | saltad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | salten |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | saltes |
| él/ella/Ud. | salte |
| nosotros/as | saltemos |
| vosotros/as | saltéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | salten |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | saltando | with estar for the progressive: estoy saltando |
| Past participle | saltado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he saltado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For saltar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Salto muy alto en el gimnasio. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For saltar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, salté a la comba en el patio. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For saltar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, saltaba por encima del charco. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For saltar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, saltaré de alegría al ganar. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For saltar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Saltaría muy alto en el gimnasio si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For saltar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he saltado a la comba en el patio. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For saltar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había saltado por encima del charco antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For saltar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré saltado de alegría al ganar. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For saltar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría saltado muy alto en el gimnasio con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For saltar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él salte a la comba en el patio. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For saltar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él saltara por encima del charco, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For saltar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Salta de alegría al ganar! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For saltar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No saltes muy alto en el gimnasio. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with saltar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Salto muy alto en el gimnasio. — I jump very high in the gym.
- Salta a la comba en el patio. — He/she jumps with a skipping rope in the yard.
- Ayer, salté por encima del charco. — Yesterday, I jumped over the puddle.
- Antes, nosotros saltábamos de alegría al ganar. — Before, we used to jump for joy when we won.
- Mañana, tú saltarás muy alto en el gimnasio. — Tomorrow, you will jump very high in the gym.
- Yo saltaría a la comba en el patio si tuviera más tiempo. — I would jump with a skipping rope in the yard if I had more time.
- Él ha saltado por encima del charco. — He has jumped over the puddle.
- Espero que él salte de alegría al ganar. — I hope he jumps for joy when we won.
- Yo ya había saltado muy alto en el gimnasio antes de salir. — I had already jumped very high in the gym before leaving.
- Ellos saltaban a la comba en el patio cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to jump with a skipping rope in the yard when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo salta muy alto en el gimnasio. — Right: Yo salto muy alto en el gimnasio. — The person matters: salta is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is salto. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo salto a la comba en el patio. — Right: Ayer yo salté a la comba en el patio. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: salto is happening now, while salté is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating saltar and brincar as identical in every context. — Right: Saltar means to jump, while brincar means to hop or bounce, a close synonym. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: saltar fits sentences such as Salto muy alto en el gimnasio, while brincar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy saltado a la comba en el patio. — Right: Yo he saltado a la comba en el patio. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he saltado, has saltado, ha saltado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo salté por encima del charco todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo saltaba por encima del charco todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (saltaba), not the preterite. The preterite (salté) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on saltar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ muy alto en el gimnasio. (present tense) A. salto B. saltas C. salta D. saltamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ a la comba en el patio. (preterite) A. salté B. saltaste C. saltaron D. saltó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ por encima del charco. (imperfect) A. saltabas B. saltaban C. saltábamos D. saltaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ de alegría al ganar. (future) A. saltaremos B. saltarás C. saltaré D. saltará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ muy alto en el gimnasio si pudiera. (conditional) A. saltaría B. saltarías C. saltarían D. salto
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ a la comba en el patio. (present subjunctive) A. saltes B. saltemos C. salto D. salte
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ por encima del charco, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. saltáramos B. salto C. saltara D. saltaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ de alegría al ganar. (present perfect) A. han saltado B. hemos saltado C. he saltado D. has saltado
Complete the command: ¡___ muy alto en el gimnasio! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. salta B. salte C. saltemos D. saltad
Which is the gerund of saltar, used with estar for the progressive? A. saltado B. salto C. salté D. saltando
Answer key
- salto — The first-person present of saltar is salto. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- saltó — The third-person preterite of saltar is saltó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- saltábamos — The nosotros imperfect of saltar is saltábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- saltarás — The second-person future of saltar is saltarás.
- saltaría — The first-person conditional of saltar is saltaría, the form for what would happen.
- salte — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of saltar is salte.
- saltara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of saltar is saltara.
- hemos saltado — The nosotros present perfect of saltar is hemos saltado: hemos + saltado.
- salta — The affirmative tú imperative of saltar is salta.
- saltando — The gerund of saltar is saltando: estoy saltando. The participle saltado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does saltar mean in English?
Saltar means to jump. It is used in everyday situations such as Salto muy alto en el gimnasio. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is saltar regular or irregular?
Saltar is a fully regular -ar verb, so every tense follows the standard endings for its class. Once you know the regular pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including salto in the present and salté in the preterite.
What is the difference between saltar and brincar?
Saltar means to jump, while brincar means to hop or bounce, a close synonym. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use saltar when you mean to jump, as in Salto muy alto en el gimnasio, and use brincar for to hop or bounce, a close synonym. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I jump” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo salté a la comba en el patio. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo saltaba por encima del charco. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he saltado a la comba en el patio.
How do I practise saltar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the saltar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Saltar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for saltar.
- Saltar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for saltar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Andar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with saltar.
- Volar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with saltar.
- Dibujar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with saltar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.