What does it mean word for word?
The core verb is demitir, which literally means to dismiss or to fire. However, when used reflexively with the pronoun me, the meaning shifts to voluntarily resigning or quitting.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between quitting and being fired. Use Me demiti to indicate that you left the job of your own accord. If you were fired by your employer, you should use Fui demitido instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase Me demiti is a shortened version of Eu me demiti. In Portuguese, the subject pronoun Eu (I) is often omitted because the conjugation of the verb already indicates that the subject is the first person.
When do people say it?
In Brazil, if you wish to express the intention to leave a position, the sentence Eu gostaria de pedir demissão (I would like to resign) is a common way to communicate this.
Did you know?
- When quitting a job in Brazil, employees often negotiate a acordo, where the employer fires the worker so they can access government unemployment funds.
- The pronoun me in Me demiti descends from the Latin mē and the Proto-Indo-European root *(e)me-, making it a distant relative of the English word 'me'.
- While Me demiti is grammatically common in Brazil, in some formal Portuguese grammatical traditions, starting a sentence with an object pronoun like me is considered a stylistic error, even though it is how people actually speak.
Examples in context
- Eu gostaria de apresentar a minha carta de demissão.I would like to submit my resignation letter.
- Estou aqui para informar que decidi me desligar da empresa.I am here to inform you that I have decided to resign from the company.
- Desejo encerrar o meu vínculo empregatício com esta empresa.I wish to terminate my employment with this company.
- Cansei do meu emprego, vou sair.I'm tired of my job, I'm leaving.
- Me demiti ontem.I quit yesterday.
- Eu me demiti para estudar.I quit my job to study.
- Não aguentava mais, então me demiti.I couldn't take it anymore, so I quit.
Example conversation
Gabriel tells Mariana about his decision during coffee.
- GabrielMariana, eu tenho uma notícia: me demiti.Mariana, I have news: I quit my job.
- MarianaSério? Você está bem, Gabriel?Really? Are you okay, Gabriel?
- GabrielSim, eu só queria um tempo livre.Yes, I just wanted some free time.
- MarianaEntendo, boa sorte com sua nova fase.I understand, good luck with your new phase.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
