dejar
to leave
To let go or release control of something
Encoding Strategies:
repetition
The most useful translation for dejar is to leave. Nearly every way it's used connects back to a single idea: letting go or releasing control of something0.
dejar
to leave, to put (somewhere)
To leave something in a place — you let it go and walk away.
- Dejé la llave en tu buzón = I left the key in your mailbox
- Deja el libro en la mesa cuando acabes = Leave the book on the table when you're done
to leave, to make (in a state)
To leave someone or something in a particular condition — you cause a state and walk away from it.
- La gripe me dejó muy débil = The flu left me very weak
- Deja la luz encendida cuando salgas = Leave the light on when you go out
to leave, to leave behind (by accident)
To leave something behind by forgetting it — you let it go without meaning to.
- Dejé el celular en casa = I left my phone at home
- Dejaste los guantes en el coche = You left your gloves in the car
to let, to allow
To let someone do something — you leave them free to act, letting go of any control over them.
- Déjame terminar esta tarea y nos vamos = Let me finish this homework and we'll go
- ¿Vas a dejar que acabe de hablar? = Are you going to let me finish talking?
to lend
When you lend something to someone, you leave it with them, letting go of it for a while.
- ¿Me dejarías tu coche? = Would you lend me your car?
- Te dejo mi paraguas, que está lloviendo = I'll lend you my umbrella, it's raining
dejar de
to stop, to quit
When you stop doing something, you leave the action behind, letting go of it.
- Dejé de fumar hace dos años = I stopped smoking two years ago
- Deja de quejarte y haz algo = Stop complaining and do something
dejarse
to let oneself, to allow oneself
When you let yourself do or experience something, you leave yourself free to act, letting go of your own resistance.
- Déjate disfrutar tu fiesta de cumpleaños = Let yourself enjoy your birthday party
- No puedo creer que se dejara engañar así = I can't believe he allowed himself to be tricked like that
to let oneself go, to neglect oneself
When you let yourself go, you let go of your own upkeep.
- Es fácil dejarse cuando estás deprimido = It's easy to let yourself go when you're depressed
to grow, to let grow (hair, beard, etc.)
When you grow out your hair or beard, you leave it alone.
- Se dejó barba durante el invierno = He grew a beard over the winter
- Se está dejando el pelo largo = She's letting her hair grow long