alto
adjectiveBeginnerHigh frequency
What does “alto” mean in English?
tall, high
Example sentences
Mi padre es alto.
My father is tall.
El edificio es muy alto.
The building is very high.
El precio es muy alto.
The price is very high.
How to use it
Alto means 'tall' (people) or 'high' (places, prices, sounds). Agrees: alto/-a/-os/-as.
Common mistake
Use ser (not estar) for height as a permanent trait: 'soy alto' (I'm tall). Estar would imply temporary ('estoy alto' rare, contextual).
Topics
Related Beginner words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish (Butt, Benjamin & Moreira Rodríguez, Routledge), 4.