saltos

Saltos is the plural of salto in Spanish and Portuguese. The term generally refers to a jump or leap, but its precise sense varies with context. It can describe a movement performed by a person or animal, a single act of leaping, or a sequence of jumps in a routine.

In sports and exercise, saltos cover formal jumping events and acrobatic moves. In track and field, examples include salto de longitud (long jump), salto en altura (high jump), and salto triple (triple jump). In gymnastics, diving, and parkour, saltos are used to clear obstacles or transition between positions, with specialized terms such as salto mortal (somersault).

In dance and performance, saltos denotes leaps and jumps within choreography. Different styles prize different forms of salto, from graceful jetés to explosive leaps, and movements are analyzed by technique, height, and distance.

In geography and place names, salto can mean a waterfall or river drop, especially in Spanish. The form appears in proper names such as Salto Ángel (Angel Falls), illustrating the broader sense of a landform where water “jumps” over a drop.

Etymology traces saltos to Latin saltus, linking the noun to jumping or leaping. The plural saltos appears in both Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking regions, while the singular salto is the common root in related terms such as brinco or salto in other languages.