dejé
/de-HEH/
I left
I left (placing an object somewhere).
📝 In Action
Dejé las llaves en la mesa de la cocina.
A1I left the keys on the kitchen table.
Ayer dejé mi paraguas en tu coche.
A2Yesterday I left my umbrella in your car.
💡 Grammar Points
A Completed Past Action
'Dejé' is used for actions that 'I' started and finished at a specific point in the past. It's the past tense form known as the preterite for 'yo' (I).
⭐ Usage Tips
Remember the Accent
The little line over the 'é' is super important! 'Dejé' (de-HEH) means 'I left' in the past. Without it, 'deje' (DEH-heh) means something completely different, like a command 'Leave!'.
I left (abandoning a place).
dejé(Verb)
I left
?abandoning a person, place, or situation
I broke up with
?ending a romantic relationship
📝 In Action
Dejé a mi novio porque no era honesto.
B1I left (broke up with) my boyfriend because he wasn't honest.
Con mucha tristeza, dejé mi país para buscar trabajo.
B1With great sadness, I left my country to look for work.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Leaving a Place: 'Dejé' vs. 'Salí'
Mistake: "Dejé la fiesta a las diez."
Correction: Salí de la fiesta a las diez. Think of 'salir' as 'to exit' a place. You use 'dejar' when you are leaving something or someone *behind* in that place.
I let (allowing or permitting).
📝 In Action
El guardia no me dejé pasar sin identificación.
B1The guard didn't let me pass without ID.
Dejé que mi hermana usara mi coche para ir a la fiesta.
B1I let my sister use my car to go to the party.
💡 Grammar Points
How to Say 'I let someone do something'
You can use the structure 'dejé' + another verb in its basic '-ar/-er/-ir' form. For example, 'La dejé hablar' (I let her speak).
An Alternative Structure: 'Dejar que...'
You can also say 'dejé que' + a person + a verb in a special form (the subjunctive). For instance, 'Dejé que mi amigo condujera' (I let my friend drive). Both ways work!
I quit (stopping a job).
📝 In Action
Finalmente, dejé de fumar el año pasado.
A2Finally, I quit smoking last year.
Dejé de preocuparme por cosas que no puedo controlar.
B2I stopped worrying about things I can't control.
💡 Grammar Points
The Magic Formula: 'Dejar de'
To say you stopped doing something, always use the phrase 'dejé de' followed by the basic '-ar/-er/-ir' form of the verb. For example, 'dejé de correr' (I stopped running).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dejé
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'dejé' to mean 'I quit'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'dejé' and 'dejaba'?
Both are past tenses, but they tell a different kind of story. 'Dejé' (the preterite) is for a specific, completed action, like 'Ayer dejé las llaves en casa' (Yesterday I left the keys at home). 'Dejaba' (the imperfect) is for repeated or ongoing actions in the past, like 'Siempre dejaba las llaves en casa' (I always used to leave the keys at home).
Can I say 'Me dejé'?
Yes, but it changes the meaning! 'Dejarse' means 'to let oneself' do something or 'to neglect oneself'. For example, 'Me dejé llevar por la emoción' means 'I let myself get carried away by the emotion'.