Inklingo

How to Say "quit" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “quit” is “dejó” — use this when referring to something stopping, like an action or a habit, often in the past tense.

dejó🔊B1

Use this when referring to something stopping, like an action or a habit, often in the past tense.

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dejara🔊B1

Use this to express a past hope or desire that someone would stop a habit or leave a situation, often in the subjunctive mood.

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abandonó🔊B1

Choose this when someone gives up on a goal, a competition, or a commitment, implying a more definitive ending.

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renunciar🔊B1

Use this specifically when formally quitting or resigning from a job or a position.

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dejen🔊B2

This is used as a command to tell multiple people (formal 'you') to stop doing something.

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dejado🔊A2

This is the past participle form, used with 'haber' to form perfect tenses, like 'have quit' or 'have left'. It's not a direct translation of 'quit' on its own.

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English → Spanish

dejó

VerbB1General
Use this when referring to something stopping, like an action or a habit, often in the past tense.

Examples

Dejó de llover justo antes del partido.

It stopped raining right before the game.

dejara

deh-HAH-radeˈxaɾa

VerbB1General
Use this to express a past hope or desire that someone would stop a habit or leave a situation, often in the subjunctive mood.
A storybook illustration of a bright red teddy bear sitting alone on a long wooden park bench, suggesting it was left behind.

Examples

Esperaba que Mario dejara ese mal hábito de fumar.

I hoped Mario would quit that bad habit of smoking.

Si usted dejara la llave en la caja, no tendríamos problemas.

If you were to leave the key in the box, we wouldn't have problems.

Dejar de + Infinitive

When 'dejara' is followed by 'de' and another verb (like 'dejara de fumar'), it always means 'to stop doing something' or 'to quit'.

VerbB1General
Choose this when someone gives up on a goal, a competition, or a commitment, implying a more definitive ending.

Examples

Ella abandonó la carrera justo antes de la meta.

She quit the race just before the finish line.

renunciar

reh-noon-see-ARrenunˈsjaɾ

VerbB1Formal
Use this specifically when formally quitting or resigning from a job or a position.
A person in professional attire dropping a large, ceremonial key into a return box near an office door, symbolizing resignation from a position.

Examples

Ella renunció a su trabajo para viajar por el mundo.

She resigned from her job to travel the world.

Si no estás feliz, debes renunciar a ese puesto.

If you are not happy, you should quit that post.

El director ha decidido renunciar a la presidencia.

The director has decided to step down from the presidency.

The 'A' Connection

When you specify what you are quitting, 'renunciar' almost always needs the little word 'a' (to/from) right before the thing you are giving up: 'Renunciar al trabajo' (Quit the job).

Forgetting the Preposition

Mistake: “Voy a renunciar el trabajo.”

Correction: Voy a renunciar *al* trabajo. (Remember 'al' is 'a' + 'el'.)

dejen

DEH-hen (like 'day-hen')ˈde.xen

VerbB2Informal/General
This is used as a command to tell multiple people (formal 'you') to stop doing something.
A large, stylized red hand is raised vertically in the center of the frame, making the universal gesture for 'stop'.

Examples

¡Dejen de comer dulces! Es hora de cenar.

Stop eating sweets! It's dinner time.

El doctor sugirió que dejen el café por unos días.

The doctor suggested that they quit coffee for a few days.

Stopping an Action

To command someone to stop doing something, you must use 'Dejen de' followed by the verb in the '-ing' form (gerundio): 'Dejen de correr'.

Missing 'de'

Mistake: “Saying 'Dejen comer' (which means 'Allow eating').”

Correction: To mean 'Stop eating', you must include the preposition: 'Dejen de comer'.

dejado

de-HA-dodeˈxa.ðo

Verb (Past Participle)A2General
This is the past participle form, used with 'haber' to form perfect tenses, like 'have quit' or 'have left'. It's not a direct translation of 'quit' on its own.
A simple image showing a set of house keys resting alone on a wooden table, illustrating the action of leaving something behind.

Examples

He dejado las llaves sobre la mesa.

I have left the keys on the table.

Mis padres no me han dejado ir a la fiesta.

My parents haven't let me go to the party.

¿Has dejado ya tu antiguo trabajo?

Have you already left your old job?

The 'Have Done' Form

Dejado is the past participle of dejar. You'll almost always see it with the verb haber (like 'have' or 'has') to talk about actions that are completed. For example, he dejado means 'I have left'.

Always Stays the Same with 'Haber'

When you use dejado with haber (like in he dejado, has dejado, etc.), it never changes. It's always dejado, no matter who did the action or what they left.

Using it Alone for Past Actions

Mistake: “Yo dejado mis llaves en casa.”

Correction: Use `Yo dejé...` for a simple past action, or `Yo he dejado...` for a 'have left' action. You can't use `dejado` by itself as the main verb.

Job vs. Habit vs. Stopping

The most common confusion is between 'renunciar' (for jobs) and verbs like 'dejar' or 'abandonar' (for habits or goals). Remember, 'renunciar' is formal and specific to employment, while 'dejar' and 'abandonar' are more general for habits, actions, or giving up on something.

Related Translations

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