dejó
/deh-HOH/
left
Dejó: He/She left (something behind). The image shows keys being left on a table.
dejó(Verb)
left
?to leave something or someone behind
forgot
?unintentionally left something somewhere
📝 In Action
Ella dejó las llaves en la mesa.
A1She left the keys on the table.
Juan dejó a su perro con un amigo durante las vacaciones.
A2Juan left his dog with a friend during the vacation.
Dejó su antiguo trabajo para empezar una nueva carrera.
B1He left his old job to start a new career.
💡 Grammar Points
A Completed Past Action
"Dejó" is a form of the verb "dejar" used for actions that were completed at a specific point in the past. Think of it as a snapshot of a finished event: He left the keys. (It happened, it's over).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Leaving Things vs. Leaving Places
Mistake: ""Él dejó la fiesta a las 10." (This sounds a bit like he abandoned the party there.)"
Correction: "Él salió de la fiesta a las 10." Use 'dejar' for the things or people you leave behind, and 'salir' for when you yourself leave a place.
⭐ Usage Tips
Always Needs an Object
This meaning of 'dejar' almost always answers the question "what?" or "who?" He left what? The keys. She left who? Her family. Remember to mention the thing being left behind.
Dejó: He/She let (allowed). The guard let the person pass.
📝 In Action
Mi mamá no me dejó ir a la fiesta.
A2My mom didn't let me go to the party.
El guardia lo dejó pasar sin revisar su bolso.
B1The guard let him pass without checking his bag.
💡 Grammar Points
The Pattern: `dejar` + action verb
When 'dejar' means 'to let' or 'allow', the verb that follows stays in its original, unchanged form (the infinitive). For example: "Me dejó usar su coche." (He let me use his car).
⭐ Usage Tips
Think 'Leave someone to do something'
A good way to remember this is to think of it as 'leaving someone alone to do an activity'. For example, "Déjame en paz" literally means "Leave me in peace," which is the same idea as letting someone be.
Dejó: He/She/It stopped (doing something). The image shows the rain stopping.
📝 In Action
Dejó de llover justo antes del partido.
B1It stopped raining right before the game.
Finalmente, dejó de quejarse y se puso a trabajar.
B1Finally, he stopped complaining and got to work.
💡 Grammar Points
The Magic Formula: `dejar de`
For this meaning, the verb 'dejar' is almost always followed by the little word 'de'. This combination, dejar de, signals that you mean 'to stop' doing something.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'de'
Mistake: ""Él dejó fumar.""
Correction: "Él dejó de fumar." Without 'de', the sentence doesn't make sense. The 'de' is the key that unlocks the meaning of 'to stop'.
Dejó: It left (caused) him/her to feel worried. The news left him worried.
📝 In Action
La noticia lo dejó muy preocupado.
B1The news left him very worried.
El final de la película me dejó sin palabras.
B2The end of the movie left me speechless.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing an Effect
Use this pattern to talk about the result or emotional impact something had on you or someone else. The structure is simple: dejar + person + feeling/state.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dejó
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says "He stopped talking"?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'dejó' and 'dejaba'?
'Dejó' is for a specific, completed action in the past (He left his keys yesterday). 'Dejaba' is for repeated or ongoing actions in the past, or for setting the scene (He always used to leave his keys on the table).
When do I use 'dejó' vs. 'salió'?
Use 'dejó' when talking about the thing or person you are leaving behind ('Dejó el libro en casa'). Use 'salió' when you are talking about yourself (or someone) leaving a physical place ('Salió de la casa').