Spanish Conversation · Level 31
90 words
Spanish word
baja
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈbaxa/
Meaning
- feminine nounsick leave
Example
Estoy de baja por la gripe.
I'm on sick leave for the flu.
More examples
El médico me dio la baja médica por una semana.
The doctor gave me doctor-certified sick leave for a week.
Core concept
Formal authorized absence from work granted for illness or maternity.
Common phrases
estar de baja
be on sick leave
baja médica
doctor-certified sick leave
baja por enfermedad
sick leave due to illness
Similar words
incapacidad: Health condition certified by a doctor or system as making someone unfit to work.
licencia: Employer- or authority-granted leave allowing an employee to be away from work.
permiso: Brief, permitted absence from work for private matters or urgent short-term needs.
Definition in Spanish
Permiso laboral oficial concedido por motivos de salud, como enfermedad o maternidad, que impide temporalmente prestar servicios.
Word origin
Related to the verb phrase dar de baja ('to take off the rolls'), with baja originally marking administrative removal and later the state of being officially excused from work for health reasons.
Usage tips
- Baja is a noun meaning leave, not the adjective bajo 'low', and reporting an absence normally uses estar de baja por... or terms like la baja por maternidad.