If you need to use the verb “to leave” in Spanish, you’ll have to choose between a few options, including salir (to go out/to depart), irse (to leave a place), dejar (to leave an object behind), and more. Knowing which to use is easiest if you learn these Spanish verbs in natural-sounding sentences like the ones you’ll encounter in Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion method.
This guide explains the difference between the verbs that can translate to “to leave” in Spanish. You’ll be able to say goodbye in most social situations as you prepare to make your exit and talk about anything you’ve left behind.
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How to say ‘to leave’ in Spanish
There are at least six verbs you could use to convey “to leave” in Spanish depending on what you mean. This quick overview can help you choose the correct Spanish verb according to the context.
| Spanish | English |
| dejar | to leave behind/to abandon an object or personto leave an object in a specific place |
| irse | to be off/to get out of a place (person) |
| largarse | to get out of a place (colloquial, can be in anger/ used rudely) |
| marcharse | to get out of a place |
| partir | to set off/to leave a place (formal) |
| salir | to depart (plane/train)/to exit a location |
Dejar
If you want to say “to leave” an object in a particular location and walk away from it, whether or not you did it intentionally, use dejar. Hopefully you haven’t left behind your pasaporte (passport).
- Siempre dejo mi bolso aquí en el gancho porque estoy muy despistada por la mañana. = I always leave my purse here on the hook because I’m really distracted in the mornings.
- Anoche dejé mis llaves en el coche. Las tenía que buscar esta mañana. = Last night I left my keys in the car. I had to look for them this morning.
- Déjame un poco de dinero, por favor. Tengo que ir de compras. = Leave a little money for me, please. I have to go shopping.
- No dejes tu libro afuera. Va a llover. = Don’t leave your book outside. It’s going to rain.
If someone leaves another person, the verb dejar could mean “to abandon” or “to walk out on.”
- Mi abuelo dejó a mi abuela sin explicación. Nadie lo esperaba. = My grandfather left my grandmother without explanation. No one expected it.
Dejar conjugation
The conjugation of the verb dejar follows the pattern of regular -AR verbs in Spanish. This conjugation chart will get you started with the three main tenses for the present, past, and future.
| Subject Pronoun | Present(leave/leaves) | Preterite (left) | Future (will leave) |
| YoI | dejo | dejé | dejaré |
| Túyou (informal) | dejas | dejaste | dejarás |
| Él/Ella/Ustedhe/she/you (formal) | deja | dejó | dejará |
| Nosotroswe | dejamos | dejamos | dejaremos |
| Vosotrosyou (informal plural – Spain) | dejáis | dejasteis | dejaréis |
| Ellos/ellas/ustedesthey/you (plural) | dejan | dejaron | dejarán |
Salir
Salir is a common Spanish verb meaning “to leave,” among other translations. It focuses on the action of departing or exiting.
If you’re in the airport or at the train station, salir means “to depart.” Knowing this verb, plus how to tell time in Spanish, can ensure you don’t miss your departure.
- El avión sale puntualmente a las ocho. = The plane leaves on time at eight o’clock.
- El tren va a salir con retraso esta tarde. = The train is going to leave late (be delayed) this afternoon.
- ¿A qué hora sales? = What time do you leave?
The verb salir can also mean to leave a room or location. The Spanish word salida (exit) is derived from this verb.
- Para salir, pasa por esta puerta. = To leave, go through this door.
- Los chicos salen al patio de recreo a las dos y media. = The kids go out (leave the classroom) to the playground at 2:30.
- No olvides sacar la basura antes de salir. = Don’t forget to take out the trash before you leave.
Used as a reflexive verb in Spanish, salirse can mean to resign or to leave a position.
- La directora se salió en enero, y todavía no han contratado a otra persona. = The director left in January, and they still haven’t hired another person.
- Me salí de este curso porque no quería despertarme tan temprano. = I left that course because I didn’t want to wake up so early.
Salir conjugation
The verb salir belongs to the group of -IR verbs in Spanish. It has an irregular yo (I) form in the present tense, and an irregular stem in the future.
| Subject Pronoun | Present(leave/leaves) | Preterite (left) | Future (will leave) |
| YoI | salgo | salí | saldré |
| Túyou (informal) | sales | salíste | saldrás |
| Él/Ella/Ustedhe/she/you (formal) | sale | salió | saldrá |
| Nosotroswe | salemos | salimos | saldremos |
| Vosotrosyou (informal plural – Spain) | saléis | salisteis | saldréis |
| Ellos/ellas/ustedesthey/you (plural) | salen | salieron | saldrán |
What is the difference between dejar and salir?
Though both dejar and salir can mean to leave, the meaning of salir is closer to “to exit” or “to depart” whereas the meaning of dejar is closer to “to leave behind.”
The difference is subtle, but learning the words in authentic contexts with natural-sounding examples can really help you understand which one to use and when.
Casual ways to say ‘to leave’ in Spanish
When it’s time to say goodbye in Spanish, depending on the mood you’re in and the circumstances, choose between these informal ways to announce your departure or someone else’s with irse, marcharse, or largarse.
Irse
You’re at a social event or at work among familiar colleagues and you glance at the time. When it’s time to leave, you might simply say “I’m leaving” or “I have to leave” in Spanish without too much formality using irse. It’s similar to ir (to go) in Spanish, but it focuses on the exit instead of the destination.
- Vale, chicos, me voy. = Ok, guys, I’m leaving.
- ¿Dónde está Laura? ¿Se fue? = Where’s Laura? Did she leave?
- Sí, las chicas se fueron hace cinco minutos. = Yes, the girls left five minutes ago.
- Pues nada, tengo que irme también. = Alright, well, I have to leave, too.
Marcharse
While marcharse essentially means the same thing as irse and, according to the Real Academia Española, can be used without the reflexive pronoun, it can imply a more definitive departure in certain contexts.
- Ella se marchó hace un mes, y nadie tiene noticias de ella. = She left a month ago, and no one has heard from her.
- Me marcho. Chau. = I’m out of here. Bye!
- Se marcharon antes del amanecer. = They left before sunrise.
- ¡Así que márchate! = So get out of here!
Largarse
Largarse is a colloquial or slang way to say “leave” in Spanish and could be translated as “to split,” “to be off,” or any number of slang phrases.
- No conocía a nadie en la fiesta así que me largué. = I didn’t know anyone at the party, so I took off.
- ¡Lárgate! = Beat it!/Get out!/Go away!
Other Spanish phrases with ‘leave’
Use some of these idiomatic expressions to form sentences like déjame en paz (leave me alone) in Spanish. Employ them in the right context to sound like a native speaker.
| Spanish | English |
| dejar a alguien con la palabra en la boca | To cut someone off. (To leave someone with the word in their mouth). |
| dejar a alguien de una pieza | To leave someone astonished or taken aback. |
| dejar a alguien sin aliento | to leave someone breathless |
| dejar a alguien sin palabras | to leave someone speechless |
| dejar algo a un lado | to leave something aside/to set aside |
| dejar algo a elección de alguien | to leave something up to someone/to leave a choice up to |
| dejar algo en claro | to make something clear |
| dejar pendiente | to leave unfinished/undone |
| dejar plantado a alguien | to stand someone up/to not show up for a date or appointment |
Be prepared before you leave
Double check all the essentials before you leave. Do you have your llaves (keys), your móvil (cell phone), your tarjeta de crédito (credit card), and your pasaporte? Anything else you might leave behind, you can purchase at your Spanish-speaking destination, because you’ll have the helpful Phrasebook in the Rosetta Stone app to help you navigate shopping and asking for help.
Leaving the comfort of home can unlock tremendous experiences. Prepare for a smooth departure by leveling up your language skills before you go.
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