deshacerse
/dess-ah-SEHR-seh/
to get rid of
When you need deshacerse (to get rid of) something unwanted, you dispose of it.
deshacerse(Verb)
to get rid of
?to dispose of something unwanted
,to dispose of
?to discard
to shake off
?a habit or feeling
,to sell off
?assets or property
📝 In Action
Necesito deshacerme de estos viejos muebles.
B1I need to get rid of this old furniture.
Ella se deshizo de la mala costumbre de fumar.
B2She shook off the bad habit of smoking.
¿Por qué no te deshaces de ese coche tan viejo?
A2Why don't you get rid of that really old car?
💡 Grammar Points
The Essential 'de'
When 'deshacerse' means 'to get rid of,' you must always follow it with the preposition 'de' (of/from). Think of it as 'to undo oneself from something.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun
Mistake: "Quiero deshacer de mi bicicleta. (Incorrect)"
Correction: Quiero deshacerme de mi bicicleta. (Correct, because the action of getting rid of is focused on the subject.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Personal Action
Since this is a reflexive verb, it emphasizes that you are taking the action upon yourself to separate from something.
The process of ice turning to water is deshacerse (to melt).
deshacerse(Verb)
to melt
?ice, butter, etc.
,to dissolve
?sugar, salt, etc.
to fall apart
?a structure or object
,to crumble
?a cookie or cake
📝 In Action
El helado se deshizo rápidamente bajo el sol.
A2The ice cream melted quickly under the sun.
La vieja tela se deshacía al tocarla.
B1The old fabric was falling apart just by touching it.
La pastilla se deshace en el agua caliente.
A2The pill dissolves in the hot water.
💡 Grammar Points
Passive Action
In this meaning, 'deshacerse' describes a change of state that happens to the subject itself (like the ice cream melting). The reflexive pronoun 'se' shows that the action is contained within the subject.
To deshacerse (to lavish praise on) someone means to praise them excessively.
deshacerse(Verb)
to lavish praise (on)
?to praise excessively
,to gush (over)
?to express overwhelming admiration
to be overcome with
?emotion
📝 In Action
El crítico se deshizo en elogios hacia la nueva película.
C1The critic lavished praise on the new movie.
Mi abuela se deshace en abrazos cada vez que me ve.
B2My grandma is overcome with hugs every time she sees me.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Usage
In this context, 'deshacerse' literally means 'to dissolve' or 'to melt,' but it is used figuratively to show that a person is 'melting' or losing control of themselves due to overwhelming emotion.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use 'en'
This meaning almost always requires the preposition 'en' (in/into) to introduce the emotion or action (e.g., 'deshacerse en elogios' — to melt into praises).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: deshacerse
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'deshacerse' in the sense of 'to get rid of'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'deshacer' and 'deshacerse'?
'Deshacer' is transitive, meaning you undo something else (e.g., 'deshice la maleta' — I unpacked the suitcase). 'Deshacerse' is reflexive, meaning the action happens to the subject (e.g., 'el hielo se deshizo' — the ice melted) or the subject gets rid of something (e.g., 'me deshice del problema' — I got rid of the problem).
Does 'deshacerse' always require 'de'?
No. When it means 'to get rid of' (Definition 1), it requires 'de'. When it means 'to melt/dissolve' (Definition 2), it usually does not. When it means 'to gush/lavish praise' (Definition 3), it requires 'en'.