dejaron
/de-HA-ron/
they left
They left (dejaron) their luggage behind as they departed.
dejaron(Verb)
they left
?left an object or departed from a place
,you all left
?ustedes form, meaning departed
they forgot
?left something behind by accident
📝 In Action
Ellos dejaron los abrigos en el coche.
A1They left the coats in the car.
Mis tíos nos dejaron en la estación a las ocho.
A2My aunt and uncle dropped us off at the station at eight.
💡 Grammar Points
The Preterite Tense
'Dejaron' is the simple past tense, used when the action of leaving or forgetting was completed and finished at a specific point in the past.
They allowed (dejaron) the child access by giving them the key.
📝 In Action
Los guardias nos dejaron pasar sin revisar las bolsas.
A2The guards let us pass without checking the bags.
Ustedes dejaron que el problema creciera demasiado.
B1You all allowed the problem to grow too much.
⭐ Usage Tips
Letting vs. Making
Use 'dejaron' to mean 'they allowed' something to happen. If you want to say 'they made' someone do something, you would use a different verb like 'obligaron'.
They stopped (dejaron) their activity and came to a halt.
📝 In Action
Ellas dejaron de fumar hace dos años.
B1They quit smoking two years ago.
Dejaron de buscar una solución y se rindieron.
B1They stopped looking for a solution and gave up.
💡 Grammar Points
Stopping an Action (Dejar de)
When 'dejar' means 'to stop doing something,' it must always be followed by the little word 'de' and then the action verb: 'dejaron de trabajar' (they stopped working).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dejaron
Question 1 of 2
Which English sentence correctly translates the meaning of 'Ellos dejaron de comer dulces'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'dejaron' and 'dejaban'?
'Dejaron' is the simple past (preterite). It means they completed the action once and it is finished: 'Dejaron el trabajo ayer' (They quit the job yesterday). 'Dejaban' is the continuous past (imperfect). It means they were doing the action repeatedly or habitually in the past: 'Dejaban el trabajo temprano cada día' (They used to leave work early every day).
How do I know if 'dejaron' means 'left' or 'allowed'?
Check the structure right after the verb. If it's followed by a direct object (a thing), it usually means 'left' ('dejaron el libro'). If it's followed by a person and then another verb, it usually means 'allowed' ('dejaron a los niños jugar').