verb

salvar

save

Proteger a alguien o algo de un peligro o daño.

Definition & meaning

Salvar is a regular Spanish verb meaning “to save,” “to rescue,” or “to preserve.” Its meaning depends on the context:

To rescue someone or something from danger
- Salvar a una persona de un incendio means “to rescue a person from a fire.”
- It can refer to physical rescue, protection, or preventing harm.
To save, preserve, or protect something
- Salvar el medio ambiente means “to save or protect the environment.”
- Salvar una relación means “to save a relationship.”
To save someone spiritually
- In a religious context, it means “to save” or “to grant salvation.”
- Dios salva a los pecadores means “God saves sinners.”
To pass or get through a difficult situation
- Salvar un examen can mean “to pass an exam” or “to get through an exam successfully.”
- Salvar una dificultad means “to overcome a difficulty.”

The pronominal form salvarse means “to save oneself,” “to escape,” or “to survive.”

Grammar & Word origin

Salvar is a regular -ar verb. Its present-tense forms include:

yo salvo — I save
tú salvas — you save
él/ella salva — he/she saves
nosotros salvamos — we save

It is usually transitive and takes a direct object:

Salvar a alguien — to save someone
Salvar algo — to save something

When referring to a person, the personal a is normally used: salvar a un niño .

Salvar comes from the Latin verb salvāre, meaning “to make safe” or “to save.” It is related to salvación (“salvation”), salvador (“savior” or “one who saves”), and salvo (“safe,” “unharmed,” or “except for,” depending on context).

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

rescatar — “to rescue”; emphasizes taking someone or something out of danger or captivity.
proteger — “to protect”; focuses on preventing harm rather than actively rescuing.
preservar — “to preserve” or “to conserve”; commonly used for objects, traditions, nature, or conditions.
auxiliar — “to assist” or “to help”; usually means providing help, not necessarily saving from serious danger.
librar — “to free” or “to deliver from”; often used with danger, punishment, or an undesirable situation.

Antonyms

poner en peligro — “to put in danger”; the direct opposite of protecting or saving.
destruir — “to destroy”; opposite of preserving or conserving.
perder — “to lose” or “to cause to be lost”; opposite of saving or recovering.
condenar — “to condemn”; an opposite in religious, moral, or legal contexts.

Common phrases & collocations

salvar una vida — to save a life
salvar a alguien del peligro — to save someone from danger
salvar el planeta — to save the planet
salvar una relación — to save a relationship
salvar un obstáculo — to overcome or clear an obstacle
salvarse por poco — to narrowly escape or have a narrow escape
sálvese quien pueda — “every person for themselves” or “save yourself if you can”