Dejar: to leave
Pronunciation: deh-HAHR (stress the capital letters)
Dejar means “to leave” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to leave (behind), to let, to stop
- How to say it: deh-HAHR
- Present: yo dejo, tú dejas
- Level: Intermediate (B1)
What “dejar” means and how to use it
Dejar means to leave something behind, to allow someone to do something, to lend, or to stop doing something.
Other translations: to let, to allow, to quit (dejar de).
How to conjugate “dejar”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | dejo | I |
| tú | dejas | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | deja | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | dejamos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | dejan | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo dejé, él dejó | I / he or she |
| Past participle | dejado | used with haber |
Examples with audio
- Dejo las llaves en la mesa.I leave the keys on the table.
- Mis padres no me dejan salir tarde.My parents do not let me go out late.
- Dejé de fumar el año pasado.I quit smoking last year.
Usage tip
Dejar de plus an infinitive means “to stop doing”: dejé de correr. Use salir for leaving a place and dejar for leaving something somewhere.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to leave” in Spanish?
“to leave” in Spanish is “dejar.” It is pronounced deh-HAHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “dejar”?
Say deh-HAHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “dejar”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “dejé” and “él” is “dejó.” The past participle is “dejado.”
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Related words
More: words with several meanings · Spanish glossary · Lessons