> Understanding the difference between the Spanish verbs dejar and salir, including their meanings, uses, and examples.
In Spanish, there are many ways to express the idea of “leaving,” and two common verbs are dejar and salir. While both can be related to “leaving,” they have different meanings and grammatical roles. Dejar generally means “to leave something or someone behind” or “to stop doing something,” while salir means “to go out” or “to leave a place.” Understanding their difference will help you use them correctly.
Dejar
Dejar is a transitive verb, which means it usually requires a direct object (something or someone that is being left). It can mean:
- To leave something or someone behind
- To let or allow something
- To stop doing something
Uses of Dejar
- Dejar + object: Leave something or someone
Dejé las llaves en la mesa. (I left the keys on the table.)
Dejé a mi hermana en casa. (I left my sister at home.)
- Dejar + de + infinitive: Stop doing something
Dejé de fumar. (I stopped smoking.)
Deja de quejarte. (Stop complaining.)
- Dejar + infinitive: Allow or let someone do something
Mi madre me dejó salir tarde. (My mom let me go out late.)
Déjame ayudarte. (Let me help you.)
Salir
Salir is an intransitive verb, so it doesn’t take a direct object. It focuses on the action of going out or leaving a place. It is often followed by prepositions like de (from) or para (for).
Uses of Salir
- Salir de + lugar: Leave a place
Salgo de la oficina a las seis. (I leave the office at six.)
Salieron de casa temprano. (They left home early.)
- Salir para + destino: Leave for a destination
Salgo para Madrid mañana. (I’m leaving for Madrid tomorrow.)
- Salir con alguien: Go out with someone (date or hang out)
Salgo con Ana este fin de semana. (I’m going out with Ana this weekend.)
Dejar vs. Salir: Key Differences
| Aspect | Dejar | Salir |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Transitive (needs object) | Intransitive (no object) |
| Meaning | Leave something/someone; allow; stop | Go out; leave a place; depart |
| Example: leaving something | Dejé mi bolso en el taxi. | — |
| Example: going out | — | Salí del taxi rápidamente. |
| Example: allow | Mi jefe me dejó ir temprano. | — |
| Example: depart | — | Salí de la reunión a las cinco. |
Examples in Context
- Leaving something behind vs. leaving a place
Dejé mi chaqueta en casa.
(I left my jacket at home.)
Salí de casa sin mi chaqueta.
(I left the house without my jacket.)
- Allowing vs. going out
Mi papá me dejó salir con mis amigos.
(My dad let me go out with my friends.)
Salí con mis amigos anoche.
(I went out with my friends last night.)
- Stopping vs. leaving
Dejé de estudiar a las diez.
(I stopped studying at ten.)
Salí a las diez para ir al cine.
(I left at ten to go to the movies.)
Summary
- Use dejar when you are talking about leaving something or someone behind, allowing something to happen, or stopping an action. It usually has a direct object.
- Use salir when you are talking about going out, leaving a place, or departing. It does not take a direct object and is often followed by prepositions like de or para.
Understanding this distinction will help you describe different types of “leaving” more precisely in Spanish.
Last updated: Sat May 31, 2025
