The verb "salvar" primarily means "to save," which can refer to rescuing something from danger, preventing something from being lost or destroyed, or preserving something for future use. It is frequently used in both oral and written contexts, appearing in personal conversations, literature, news articles, and legal texts.
"Salvar" is often used with subjects like people, animals, or objects, when talking about safety or preservation. Its usage frequency can be considered quite high in the Spanish-speaking world.
El bombero logró salvar a la niña que estaba atrapada en el edificio.
(The firefighter managed to save the girl who was trapped in the building.)
Es importante salvar el medio ambiente para las futuras generaciones.
(It is important to save the environment for future generations.)
Tengo que salvar este documento antes de perderlo.
(I need to save this document before losing it.)
"Salvar" commonly appears in various idiomatic expressions in Spanish, emphasizing different nuances of “saving” in metaphorical contexts.
El político trató de salvar las apariencias durante el escándalo.
(The politician tried to save face during the scandal.)
Salvar el pellejo
Tuvo que inventar una excusa para salvar el pellejo.
(He had to make up an excuse to save his skin.)
Salvar del fuego
El héroe fue capaz de salvar del fuego a la anciana del edificio en llamas.
(The hero was able to save the elderly woman from the fire in the burning building.)
Salvar un problema
The word "salvar" originates from the Latin "salvāre," which means "to save or to make safe." This term itself derives from "salvus," meaning "safe, whole, or uninjured." The roots of the word reflect its long lineage and stability in the vocabulary of Spanish as a term regarding safety and preservation.