Both partir and quitter mean “to leave,” but they’re used differently:
- Partir is intransitive: you don’t leave anything directly behind; you leave/from somewhere or something.
- Quitter is transitive: you must leave someone or something. The thing or person being left is the direct object.
*quitter* requires a direct object; *partir* does not.
Partir: to leave (intransitive)
Partir expresses departure and doesn’t take a direct object. It’s often used with (de, pour, vers) to show from where or towards where you leave.
| Subject | Partir (present) | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Je | pars | Je pars à 8 heures. | I leave at 8 o’clock. |
| Tu | pars | Tu pars demain. | You leave tomorrow. |
| Il/Elle | part | Elle part pour Paris. | She leaves for Paris. |
| Nous | partons | Nous partons bientôt. | We’re leaving soon. |
| Vous | partez | Vous partez en vacances. | You leave on vacation. |
| Ils/Elles | partent | Ils partent du bureau. | They leave the office. |
- You don’t say what you “leave” with partir—you say where you leave from or go toward.
*partir* is commonly paired with de, pour, or vers.
Quitter: to leave (someone/something) (transitive)
Quitter requires a direct object: you leave someone or something. You can’t use quitter alone.
| Subject | Quitter (present) | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Je | quitte | Je quitte la maison. | I leave the house. |
| Tu | quittes | Tu quittes ton travail. | You leave your job. |
| Il/Elle | quitte | Il quitte ses amis. | He leaves his friends. |
| Nous | quittons | Nous quittons la ville. | We leave the city. |
| Vous | quittez | Vous quittez le resto tôt. | You leave the restaurant early. |
| Ils/Elles | quittent | Ils quittent l'école. | They leave school. |
- The object you leave is something/someone you’re connected to—you don’t talk about leaving a place in a neutral way.
You can use *quitter* to leave a job, a city, or a relationship—anything you’re attached to.
Partir vs Quitter Summary
| Aspect | Partir | Quitter |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | To leave/depart | To leave (someone/something) |
| Verb Type | Intransitive | Transitive |
| Do you need a direct object? | No | Yes |
| Typical usage | Leaving in/from a place | Leaving a person, a job, a place (as an attachment) |
| Example | Je pars demain. (I’m leaving tomorrow.) | Je quitte la maison. (I’m leaving the house.) |
You can use both: 'Je pars de l'entreprise' (partir) or 'Je quitte l'entreprise' (quitter).
You use *partir* because you are leaving a country/place (Je suis parti(e) de France).
Conclusion
Partir and quitter both express “to leave,” but partir focuses on departure (without a direct object), while quitter requires leaving someone or something (with a direct object).
- Partir is intransitive and used with prepositions to show direction or origin.
- Quitter is transitive and always needs a direct object (person or thing being left).
*quitter* requires a direct object; *partir* does not.