Inklingo

aleja

ah-LEH-hahaˈlexa

aleja means moves away in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

moves away, distances

Also: removes
VerbA2regular ar
A small red boat sailing far away from a wooden dock on a calm blue sea.
gerundalejando
past Participlealejado
infinitivealejar

📝 In Action

Ella aleja el plato cuando termina de comer.

A2

She moves the plate away when she finishes eating.

El niño aleja sus juguetes de la escalera.

A2

The boy moves his toys away from the stairs.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • aparta (sets aside/moves away)
  • separa (separates)

Antonyms

  • acerca (brings closer)
  • aproxima (approximates/brings near)

Common Collocations

  • aleja de la vistamoves out of sight
  • se alejahe/she/it moves themselves away

dispels, wards off

VerbB1regular ar
A bright sun shining through dark clouds, causing the clouds to drift apart and vanish.
gerundalejando
past Participlealejado
infinitivealejar

📝 In Action

Su sonrisa aleja mis miedos.

B1

Her smile dispels my fears.

Este amuleto aleja la mala suerte.

B1

This charm wards off bad luck.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • disipa (dissipates/dispels)
  • espanta (frightens away)

Idioms & Expressions

  • alejar los malos pensamientosto try and stop thinking about negative things

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoalejara
alejaras
él/ella/ustedalejara
nosotrosalejáramos
vosotrosalejarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesalejaran

Present Subjunctive

yoaleje
alejes
él/ella/ustedaleje
nosotrosalejemos
vosotrosalejéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesalejen

Indicative

Preterite

yoalejé
alejaste
él/ella/ustedalejó
nosotrosalejamos
vosotrosalejasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesalejaron

Imperfect

yoalejaba
alejabas
él/ella/ustedalejaba
nosotrosalejábamos
vosotrosalejabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesalejaban

Present

yoalejo
alejas
él/ella/ustedaleja
nosotrosalejamos
vosotrosalejáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesalejan

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "aleja" in Spanish:

dispelsdistancesmoves awayremoveswards off

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: aleja

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence means 'He moves the chair away from the table'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

From the Spanish word 'lejos' (far), which comes from the Latin 'laxus' meaning wide or loose.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: alhear

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'aleja' and 'se aleja'?

'Aleja' is used when you are moving something else away (e.g., moving a chair). 'Se aleja' is used when someone or something is moving themselves away (e.g., 'The cat walks away').

Can 'aleja' be a command?

Yes! If you are speaking informally to a friend, 'aleja' is the command form for 'move (something) away'.