despedirme
des-peh-DEER-meh
Quick Reference
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Me' is Essential
The base verb is 'despedir' (to dismiss someone), but when you add the little word 'me' (despedirme), it changes the meaning to 'to say goodbye (myself)' or 'to dismiss myself.' You must use the 'me' here.
Reflexive Pronoun Placement
When using the infinitive form, the pronoun ('me') is always attached to the end. If you conjugate the verb (e.g., me despido), the pronoun moves to the front.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Vowel Change
Mistake: "Me desp**e**do."
Correction: Me desp**i**do. The 'e' in the middle of the verb changes to 'i' in most forms, including the 'yo,' 'tú,' 'él/ella,' and 'ellos/ellas' forms.
⭐ Usage Tips
Quick Exit Phrase
Use 'Tengo que despedirme' (I have to say goodbye) when you need a polite but quick exit from a social situation.
🔄 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
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*.