abandonar
/ah-bahn-doh-NAHR/
to abandon
Abandonar means 'to abandon,' like leaving an object or place behind.
abandonar(verb)
to abandon
?leaving a person, place, or object
,to leave
?leaving a responsibility or place
to desert
?military/responsibility context
📝 In Action
El perro fue abandonado en la carretera.
A2The dog was abandoned on the highway.
Ella decidió abandonar su casa después del divorcio.
B1She decided to leave her house after the divorce.
No podemos abandonar el proyecto a mitad de camino.
B1We cannot abandon the project halfway through.
💡 Grammar Points
Direct Object
The thing or person being abandoned immediately follows the verb, without needing 'a' unless it's a person (the personal 'a').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Abandonar' and 'Dejar'
Mistake: "Usando 'Abandonar mi libro' (Abandon my book) when you mean 'Dejar mi libro' (Leave my book temporarily)."
Correction: 'Abandonar' implies permanence or neglect. Use 'dejar' for temporary or casual leaving.
⭐ Usage Tips
Emotional Weight
'Abandonar' often carries a heavier, more negative emotional weight than 'dejar' (to leave).
Abandonar means 'to give up' or quit an effort, such as stopping a difficult task.
abandonar(verb)
to give up
?quitting an effort or habit
,to quit
?stopping a job or activity
to drop out
?leaving a course or race
📝 In Action
Nunca debes abandonar tus sueños.
B1You should never give up on your dreams.
El corredor tuvo que abandonar la carrera por una lesión.
B2The runner had to drop out of the race due to an injury.
Muchos estudiantes abandonan la universidad en el primer año.
B2Many students quit university in the first year.
💡 Grammar Points
Preposition Use
When 'abandonar' means 'to give up on' something abstract, it usually takes a direct object, unlike English which often uses 'on'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Quitting
For formally quitting a job, 'renunciar' (to resign) is generally more specific than 'abandonar'.
When used reflexively, abandonar can mean 'to neglect oneself,' similar to neglecting a plant's needs.
abandonar(verb)
to neglect oneself
?physical or mental health
,to let oneself go
?allowing negative habits to take over
to give in (to emotion)
?abandonarse a la tristeza
📝 In Action
Después de la pérdida, se abandonó por completo.
B2After the loss, he completely neglected himself (let himself go).
No debemos abandonarnos a la desesperación.
C1We must not give in to despair.
💡 Grammar Points
The Reflexive Form
When used as 'abandonarse,' the action reflects back onto the subject. This always requires a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the Pronoun
Mistake: "Saying 'Él abandonó' when you mean 'He neglected himself.'"
Correction: You must include the reflexive pronoun: 'Él se abandonó' (He neglected himself). 'Él abandonó' only means 'He left/quit something else.'
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: abandonar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'abandonar' in the sense of 'to neglect oneself'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'abandonar' always negative?
Yes, 'abandonar' generally carries a strong sense of failure, desertion, or neglect. If you simply want to say 'I left my keys on the table,' use the verb 'dejar' (dejé las llaves) instead.
How do I say 'abandoned house'?
You use the past participle used as an adjective: 'una casa abandonada' (the 'a' ending matches the feminine noun 'casa').