no dejes
/no dexes/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase no dejes means "don't leave" or "don't stop".
no dejes is a command used to tell someone not to leave or to stop doing something. A common way to use this is with the construction no dejes de followed by an infinitive, which means "don't stop [doing something]" (for example, no dejes de fumar means "don't stop smoking").
Which one should you use?
While deja is used for affirmative commands (e.g., "leave"), dejes is used specifically for negative commands when preceded by "no".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form dejes is the second-person singular present subjunctive form of the verb dejar.
Did you know?
- In some contexts, the word no is not a negation but a contracted form of the Latin word numero, meaning 'number'.
- The verb dejar is used to describe the act of leaving a tip at a restaurant, which is a different conceptual use than 'leaving' a place.
- The phrase no dejes is central to the common Spanish idiom no dejes para mañana lo que puedes hacer hoy, which means 'don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today'.
Examples in context
- No dejes la puerta abierta.Don't leave the door open.
- No dejes de estudiar para el examen.Don't stop studying for the exam.
- No dejes las llaves en la mesa.Don't leave the keys on the table.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are cleaning the kitchen.
- JavierSofía, no dejes los platos sucios aquí.Sofía, don't leave the dirty dishes here.
- SofíaLo siento, los lavo ahora mismo.I'm sorry, I'll wash them right now.
- JavierGracias, que quede todo limpio.Thanks, let's keep everything clean.
- SofíaEstá bien, Javier.All right, Javier.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries no, CC BY-SA 4.0.
