Inklingo

How to Say "to quit" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to quit” is “dejar” — use 'dejar' when referring to ceasing an activity or habit, often followed by 'de' and an infinitive or noun.

English → Spanish

dejar

de-HARdeˈxaɾ

verbB1general
Use 'dejar' when referring to ceasing an activity or habit, often followed by 'de' and an infinitive or noun.
A street scene where heavy rain has just stopped. A rainbow appears over the wet pavement, and the sun breaks through the clouds, illustrating the cessation of an action.

Examples

Voy a dejar de fumar el próximo mes.

I'm going to stop smoking next month.

¡Deja de quejarte todo el tiempo!

Stop complaining all the time!

Dejó de llover hace una hora.

It stopped raining an hour ago.

The 'dejar de + action' pattern

To talk about stopping an activity, you always need the little word 'de' after 'dejar'. The recipe is: 'dejar de' + the action verb in its original '-ar', '-er', or '-ir' form. 'Dejo de trabajar' (I stop working).

Forgetting 'de'

Mistake: “Quiero dejar fumar.”

Correction: Quiero dejar de fumar. When 'dejar' means 'to stop' or 'to quit' an action, it almost always needs 'de' before the next verb.

parar

pa-RARpaˈɾaɾ

verbA1general
Use 'parar' when you mean to stop doing something, especially when followed by 'de' and an infinitive. It's a very basic verb for stopping.
A bright red toy train sitting motionless on a wooden track, depicting the cessation of movement.

Examples

El autobús para en esta esquina.

The bus stops on this corner.

¡Para! Hay un semáforo en rojo.

Stop! There's a red light.

Tienes que parar de hacer tanto ruido.

You have to stop making so much noise.

Stopping an Action

To say you 'stop doing something', use the structure 'parar de' + the action verb. For example, 'Paré de comer' means 'I stopped eating'.

Stopping Yourself vs. Stopping Something Else

Mistake: “'Yo paro el coche' vs. 'Yo me paro'”

Correction: 'Parar' stops an external object ('I stop the car'). 'Pararse' stops yourself ('I stop').

abandonar

ah-bahn-doh-NAHRa.βan.doˈnaɾ

verbB1general
Use 'abandonar' when you are leaving a job, a place, or ceasing to pursue something important like dreams or responsibilities.
A small child sits slumped on the sand next to a half-finished, crumbling sandcastle, dropping their red bucket and shovel in defeat.

Examples

Nunca debes abandonar tus sueños.

You should never give up on your dreams.

El corredor tuvo que abandonar la carrera por una lesión.

The runner had to drop out of the race due to an injury.

Muchos estudiantes abandonan la universidad en el primer año.

Many students quit university in the first year.

Preposition Use

When 'abandonar' means 'to give up on' something abstract, it usually takes a direct object, unlike English which often uses 'on'.

dejarme

de-HAR-medeˈxaɾme

verbB1general
This reflexive form is used when the action of stopping or ceasing affects the subject directly, often implying 'to let oneself' do something.
A person standing on a path, smiling confidently as they step over a low, symbolic red velvet rope that previously blocked their way, representing self-permission.

Examples

No quiero dejarme llevar por la pereza.

I don't want to let myself be carried away by laziness.

Después de la boda, empecé a dejarme un poco.

After the wedding, I started to let myself go a little (neglect my appearance/health).

Voy a dejarme de chismes y a concentrarme en mi trabajo.

I am going to stop the gossip and concentrate on my work.

The Reflexive Meaning

When 'dejar' is used with 'me' (or 'se', 'te', etc.) and changes to 'dejarse,' the action is done to oneself. It often implies a lack of resistance or self-control.

Quitting Habits

To say 'I am going to stop doing X,' you often use 'Voy a dejarme de X' (B2/C1 usage). This structure is more focused on stopping a personal habit or behavior.

Confusing Transitive vs. Reflexive

Mistake: “Quiero dejarme el libro. (I want to allow myself the book.)”

Correction: Quiero dejar el libro. (I want to leave the book.) or 'Quiero que me dejes el libro.' (I want you to lend me the book.)

desertar

deh-sehr-TAHRdeseɾˈtaɾ

verbB2formal
Use 'desertar' specifically when referring to abandoning a formal group, like the military, a political party, or an organization.
A soldier in uniform walking away from a lone guard booth towards a distant forest, leaving their post empty.

Examples

El soldado decidió desertar a mitad de la noche.

The soldier decided to desert in the middle of the night.

Muchos científicos desertaron de su país para trabajar en el extranjero.

Many scientists defected from their country to work abroad.

No es fácil desertar de una organización tan poderosa.

It is not easy to quit such a powerful organization.

Using 'de' with Desertar

When you want to say WHAT you are deserting or quitting, you almost always need the word 'de' afterwards. For example: 'Desertar de la causa' (To desert the cause).

Stem-changing Pattern

Even though it's an -ar verb, it has a tiny change: the 'e' becomes 'ie' when you stress that part of the word (like in 'yo desierto').

Forgetting the 'de'

Mistake: “Él desertó el ejército.”

Correction: Él desertó del ejército. In Spanish, you desert 'from' the place or group.

Choosing between 'dejar' and 'parar'

Learners often confuse 'dejar' and 'parar' when talking about quitting a habit like smoking. While both can be used with 'de' + infinitive (e.g., 'dejar de fumar', 'parar de fumar'), 'dejar' is more common and general for ceasing habits, whereas 'parar' often implies a more abrupt stop.

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