dejar
Lemma Details
Translation: to leave; to let; to allow; to quit; to abandon; to stop; to put down
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Dejar comes from Latin 'laxare' meaning 'to loosen, relax, or release', which evolved to 'dexare' in Vulgar Latin and then to 'dejar' in Spanish. The Latin root 'lax-' is also found in English words like 'relax', 'laxative', and 'lax'. The semantic evolution shows how the concept of 'loosening' developed into meanings of 'leaving' (releasing oneself from a place) and 'allowing' (loosening restrictions).
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Mnemonics
- Think of 'dejar' as 'de-jar' – when you leave something, you take it out of the jar (container/place).
- Connect it with 'delay' in English – when you leave something for later, you delay it.
- Associate with 'disengage' – when you leave something, you disengage from it.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
Dejar is one of the most versatile and frequently used verbs in Spanish. Its multiple meanings make it essential in everyday conversation. The expression 'dejar en herencia' (to leave as inheritance) reflects the importance of family legacy in Spanish-speaking cultures.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'dejar' means 'to leave' in the sense of abandoning or putting something somewhere, 'quedar' means 'to stay' or 'to remain'. They can seem like opposites but are sometimes used in similar contexts.
Confused word:
El libro quedó en la mesa.
The book remained on the table.
Notes: In some contexts with objects, 'dejar' is the action (I left it there) while 'quedar' is the resulting state (it remained there).
Mnemonic: Dejar = Departure (leaving), Quedar = Quiet staying (remaining)
Explanation: 'Dejar' means to leave something or someone behind, while 'salir' means to exit or go out from a place.
Notes: 'Salir' focuses on the act of exiting, while 'dejar' emphasizes what is being left behind.
Mnemonic: Dejar = Detach from something, Salir = Step out of somewhere