despedirme
“despedirme” means “to say goodbye (myself)” in Spanish (when the speaker is leaving).
to say goodbye (myself), to take my leave
Also: to excuse myself
📝 In Action
Necesito despedirme antes de que cierren la tienda.
A2I need to say goodbye before the store closes.
Disculpa, tengo que despedirme. Mañana trabajo temprano.
B1Excuse me, I have to take my leave. I work early tomorrow.
Fui a la oficina solo para despedirme de mis compañeros.
B1I went to the office just to say goodbye to my coworkers.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: despedirme
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the conjugated form of 'despedirse' for 'we'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb *despedir* comes from the Latin prefix *dis-* (meaning separation or reversal) combined with *petīre* (meaning to seek or request). Historically, it meant 'to ask permission to leave' or 'to send away,' which evolved into both 'to fire someone' and, reflexively (*despedirse*), 'to say goodbye.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'despedir' and 'despedirse'?
'Despedir' (without the 'se') means 'to fire' or 'to dismiss' someone else (e.g., *Despidieron al jefe* - They fired the boss). 'Despedirse' (with the 'se') means 'to say goodbye' or 'to take your own leave' (e.g., *Me despido* - I say goodbye).
Why does the vowel change from E to I?
This is a common pattern in Spanish -ir verbs that have an 'e' in the stem. It's called a stem change or boot verb. It happens in most forms except for the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms. Just remember the 'e' becomes 'i' in the singular forms: *despido, despides, despide*.