Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
To Save in Spanish: Guardar
Guardar · verb · gwahr-DAHR
Spanish splits the English verb to save into three distinct words: guardar for saving files and storing items, ahorrar for saving money and conserving resources, and salvar for saving lives and rescuing from danger. Each verb is non-interchangeable, so picking the right one depends entirely on what is being saved.
Guardar is pronounced gwahr-DAHR with stress on the final syllable. Ahorrar is ah-oh-RAHR, and salvar is sahl-BAHR. All three are regular -ar verbs.
No olvides guardar el documento antes de cerrar la aplicación.
Don't forget to save the document before closing the app.
To Save in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for to save, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| guardar | to save | gwahr-DAHR | Default, widely understood |
| ahorrar | to save | used for saving money or resources | |
| salvar | to save | used for saving a life or rescuing |
How Native Speakers Use Guardar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Saving a file
Guarda los cambios en la hoja de cálculo antes de salir.
Save the changes in the spreadsheet before leaving.
Guardar is the standard verb for saving digital files, documents, and data.
Saving money
Estoy ahorrando para comprar una casa el próximo año.
I'm saving to buy a house next year.
Ahorrar applies to financial savings, budgeting, and conserving resources like energy or water.
Saving a life
Los bomberos salvaron a tres personas del incendio.
The firefighters saved three people from the fire.
Salvar is reserved for rescue, salvation, and life-threatening situations.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Guardar
Using salvar for saving money
Incorrect: Necesito salvar más dinero cada mes.
Correct: Necesito ahorrar más dinero cada mes.
Salvar means to rescue from danger, not to accumulate financially. Using salvar with money sounds like the money itself is being rescued from a disaster.
Using guardar for saving a life
Incorrect: El doctor guardó la vida del paciente.
Correct: El doctor salvó la vida del paciente.
Guardar means to store or keep safe, not to rescue. Saving a life requires salvar, which carries the meaning of rescue and deliverance.
Lock in To 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 la aplicación. 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 To Save in Spanish
- How do you say to save in Spanish?
- The translation depends on context: guardar for saving files or storing objects, ahorrar for saving money or resources, and salvar for saving lives or rescuing. English collapses all three meanings into one word, but Spanish requires the speaker to choose.
- What is the difference between guardar, ahorrar, and salvar?
- Guardar means to keep, store, or save a file. Ahorrar means to accumulate money or conserve resources over time. Salvar means to rescue or save someone from danger. Mixing them up produces sentences that native speakers find confusing or unintentionally humorous.
- Which form of save is most commonly used in Spanish?
- Guardar is the most frequently encountered in daily life because it covers saving files, storing items, putting things away, and keeping something safe. Ahorrar is common in financial contexts, and salvar appears in emergency, medical, and religious discourse.