deja
“deja” means “leaves (behind)” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
leaves (behind), puts
Also: forgets
📝 In Action
Ella siempre deja sus llaves en la mesa.
A1She always leaves her keys on the table.
Mi hermano deja la toalla mojada en la cama.
A2My brother leaves the wet towel on the bed.
¿Usted deja un mensaje después del tono?
A2Do you (formal) leave a message after the tone?
lets, allows
Also: causes
📝 In Action
Mi jefe no me deja salir temprano.
A2My boss doesn't let me leave early.
La lluvia no deja que los niños jueguen afuera.
B1The rain doesn't let the children play outside.
Esta película siempre me deja pensando.
B1This movie always leaves me thinking.
Leave!, Let!, Stop!
📝 In Action
¡Deja eso en el suelo!
A2Leave that on the floor!
Por favor, deja de hacer tanto ruido.
A2Please, stop making so much noise.
¡Deja que yo lo intente!
B1Let me try it!
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: deja
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'deja' to mean 'lets' or 'allows'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'laxāre', which meant 'to loosen, release, or slacken'. Over time, its meaning shifted in Spanish to 'leave behind' or 'let go', which is how we get the modern meanings of letting something be or leaving an object.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'deja' and 'deje'?
'Deja' is the command you give to someone you call 'tú' (informal 'you'). 'Deje' is the command you give to someone you call 'usted' (formal 'you'). So you'd say '¡Deja eso!' to a friend, but 'Deje eso, por favor' to a stranger.
Can 'deja' mean to break up with someone?
Yes, absolutely. The verb 'dejar a alguien' means 'to leave someone' or 'to break up with someone'. So, 'Él deja a su novia' means 'He is breaking up with his girlfriend'.