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A high quality storybook illustration showing a small hand retracting away from a single, bright red toy block resting on a wooden surface, visually representing the command to stop touching something.

déjalo

DEH-hah-loh

Verbal Command PhraseA2
Leave it?Telling someone to stop touching an object or drop a subject.,Let it go?Telling someone to stop worrying or obsessing over something.
Also:Stop it?Used to interrupt an action.,Drop it?Telling someone to end a discussion.

Quick Reference

infinitivedejar
gerunddejando
past Participledejado

📝 In Action

Ese libro es mío. Déjalo.

A1

That book is mine. Leave it (don't touch it).

Ya es tarde. Déjalo para mañana.

A2

It's already late. Leave it (put off) until tomorrow.

No te preocupes por el examen. Ya pasó, déjalo.

B1

Don't worry about the exam. It already happened, let it go.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • Basta (Enough)
  • Para (Stop (imperative))

Common Collocations

  • Déjalo en paz – Leave him/it alone
  • Déjalo ahí – Leave it there

💡 Grammar Points

Built from Two Pieces

This phrase is a command form of the verb 'dejar' (to leave/let) plus the little word 'lo' (meaning 'it').

Pronoun Placement in Commands

In affirmative commands (when you are telling someone to do something), the pronouns like 'lo' are attached directly to the end of the verb, forming one single word. That's why the accent is needed!

The Accent Mark

The accent mark on the 'e' (déjalo) is necessary to keep the stress on the first syllable, where it naturally falls in the root verb 'deja'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the Accent

Mistake: "Dejalo"

Correction: Déjalo. Without the accent, the stress shifts to the 'a' (deh-HAH-loh), which sounds unnatural and incorrect.

Using it for 'You (Formal)'

Mistake: "Using 'déjalo' when speaking to your boss or an elderly person."

Correction: Use 'déjelo' (if addressing one formal person) or 'déjenlo' (if addressing multiple people). 'Déjalo' is strictly for 'tú' (informal).

⭐ Usage Tips

Matching the Object

If you are telling someone to leave a feminine object, you must change the ending: 'Déjala' (Leave the book, la llave). If the object is plural, use 'Déjalos' or 'Déjalas'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: déjalo

Question 1 of 2

If you want to tell your friend to stop talking about a sensitive topic, which phrase would you use?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

dejar(to leave, to let) - verb
déjala(leave her/it (feminine)) - verbal command phrase
déjame(leave me alone, let me) - verbal command phrase

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'déjalo' have an accent mark?

The accent mark is needed because attaching the pronoun 'lo' adds an extra syllable to the end of the word. In Spanish, we add an accent to keep the natural stress of the original command ('deja') on the first syllable.

How do I say 'Leave us alone' using the same structure?

You would replace 'lo' (it) with 'nos' (us) and attach it to the command: 'Déjanos.' Since 'nos' has two vowels, you do not need the written accent here.