dejarlo
“dejarlo” means “to quit it” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to quit it, to drop it
Also: to give it up, to stop him
📝 In Action
Mi doctor me dijo que tengo que **dejarlo** (el café).
B1My doctor told me I have to **quit it** (coffee).
Por favor, no hablemos más de eso, es mejor **dejarlo**.
B1Please, let's not talk about that anymore, it's better **to drop it**.
to leave it, to leave him alone
Also: to put it down
📝 In Action
Te pido que vayas a la entrada para **dejarlo** (el paquete).
A1I ask you to go to the entrance **to leave it** (the package).
Si el niño está tranquilo, es mejor **dejarlo** solo.
A2If the boy is calm, it’s better **to leave him** alone.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: dejarlo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'dejarlo' in the sense of 'to quit a habit'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'dejar' comes from the Latin verb *laxare*, which meant 'to loosen' or 'to relax.' This evolved into the idea of 'letting go' or 'leaving.' The suffix '-lo' is the direct object pronoun *lo* (it/him), attached to the verb.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (as 'dejar')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'dejarlo' written as one word?
Spanish combines the infinitive verb (dejar) with object pronouns (lo, la, nos, te, etc.) when they refer to the action. This creates a single word. This is standard for infinitives, gerunds, and positive commands.
What is the difference between 'dejarlo' and 'dejarla'?
'Dejarlo' means 'to leave/quit it' (if 'it' is masculine or a concept) or 'to leave/let him.' 'Dejarla' means 'to leave/quit it' (if 'it' is feminine) or 'to leave/let her.'