Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Save in Spanish: Guardar
Guardar · verb · gwar-DAHR
Save translates to three distinct Spanish verbs depending on context: guardar for storing or keeping, ahorrar for saving money or time, and salvar for rescuing someone or something from danger. Mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes English speakers make because English uses one word where Spanish uses three.
Guardar is pronounced gwar-DAHR with the stress on the final syllable. Ahorrar sounds like ah-oh-RAHR, and salvar is sahl-BAHR.
No olvides guardar el documento antes de cerrar.
Don't forget to save the document before closing.
Save in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for save, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| guardar | save | gwar-DAHR | Default, widely understood |
| ahorrar | save | saving money or resources | |
| salvar | save | saving a life or rescuing |
How Native Speakers Use Guardar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Saving a file on a computer
Guarda los cambios antes de apagar la computadora.
Save the changes before turning off the computer.
Guardar is the standard verb for saving files, documents, and digital work.
Saving money for a goal
Estamos ahorrando para comprar una casa el próximo año.
We are saving to buy a house next year.
Ahorrar is exclusively for saving money, time, or resources.
Saving someone from danger
Los bomberos lograron salvar a toda la familia del incendio.
The firefighters managed to save the entire family from the fire.
Salvar is reserved for rescue situations involving lives or critical things.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Guardar
Using salvar for saving money
Incorrect: Quiero salvar dinero este mes.
Correct: Quiero ahorrar dinero este mes.
Salvar means to rescue from danger. Saying salvar dinero sounds like you are rescuing money from a burning building. Use ahorrar for financial saving.
Using guardar for saving a life
Incorrect: El doctor guardó al paciente.
Correct: El doctor salvó al paciente.
Guardar means to store or keep. Saying the doctor stored the patient makes no sense. Use salvar when someone is being rescued or their life is being preserved.
Lock in Save Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Guardar used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using guardar in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear No olvides guardar el documento antes de cerrar. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Save in Spanish
- How do you say save in Spanish?
- It depends on what you are saving. Use guardar for keeping or storing something (like a file), ahorrar for saving money or resources, and salvar for saving a life or rescuing from danger. Each verb covers a distinct meaning that English lumps into one word.
- What is the difference between guardar and salvar?
- Guardar means to keep, store, or put away — you guardar a file, a secret, or leftovers. Salvar means to rescue or save from harm — you salvar a drowning person or an endangered species. They are never interchangeable.
- How do you say save money in Spanish?
- The correct phrase is ahorrar dinero. For instance, estoy ahorrando para mis vacaciones means I am saving for my vacation. The noun form is ahorro (savings), and a savings account is a cuenta de ahorros.