Inklingo

despido

des-PEE-dohdesˈpiðo

despido means dismissal in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

dismissal, firingAlso: redundancy

NounmB1
A person walking away from a building holding a cardboard box filled with office supplies.

📝 In Action

El despido fue totalmente inesperado para todos los empleados.

B1

The dismissal was totally unexpected for all the employees.

Recibió una indemnización tras su despido.

B2

He received a compensation payment after his firing.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cese (termination)
  • destitución (removal from office)

Antonyms

  • contratación (hiring)
  • empleo (employment)

Common Collocations

  • despido improcedenteunfair dismissal
  • carta de despidotermination letter
  • despido colectivomass layoff

I fire, I say goodbyeAlso: I see off

VerbA2irregular (e-to-i spelling change) ir
A hand pointing firmly towards an open door.
gerunddespidiendo
past Participledespedido
infinitivedespedir

📝 In Action

Hoy me despido de mis compañeros porque es mi último día.

A2

Today I say goodbye to my colleagues because it's my last day.

Yo no despido a la gente sin una buena razón.

B1

I don't fire people without a good reason.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • echar (to throw out/fire (informal))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • me despido de tiI say goodbye to you

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yodespidiera
despidieras
él/ella/usteddespidiera
nosotrosdespidiéramos
vosotrosdespidierais
ellos/ellas/ustedesdespidieran

Present Subjunctive

yodespida
despidas
él/ella/usteddespida
nosotrosdespidamos
vosotrosdespidáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesdespidan

Indicative

Preterite

yodespedí
despediste
él/ella/usteddespidió
nosotrosdespedimos
vosotrosdespedisteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesdespidieron

Imperfect

yodespedía
despedías
él/ella/usteddespedía
nosotrosdespedíamos
vosotrosdespedíais
ellos/ellas/ustedesdespedían

Present

yodespido
despides
él/ella/usteddespide
nosotrosdespedimos
vosotrosdespedís
ellos/ellas/ustedesdespiden

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "despido" in Spanish:

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: despido

Question 1 of 2

If you are leaving a party and say 'Me despido de todos', what are you doing?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

Comes from the verb 'despedir', which originally meant to 'let go' or 'release' someone from service.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: despedida

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'despido' always a bad thing?

As a noun, it usually refers to losing a job, which is often negative. However, as a verb form ('me despido'), it is a polite way to say goodbye.

What is the difference between 'despido' and 'adiós'?

'Adiós' is the word for 'Goodbye'. 'Despido' is the action of saying it. You would say 'Me despido' (I am saying goodbye), but you wouldn't just say 'Despido!' as a greeting.