Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA |
|---|---|
| exeō | |
| abeo | [ˈa.be.oː] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈaː.be.o] (narrow) |
| abambulo | [aˈbam.bʊ.ɫoː] (Classical Latin, narrow) [aˈbam.bu.lo] (narrow) |
| decedo | [deːˈkeː.doː] (Classical Latin, narrow) [deˈt͡ʃɛː.do] (narrow) |
| discedo | [dɪsˈkeː.doː] (Classical Latin, narrow) [diʃˈʃɛː.do] (narrow) |
| proficiscor | [prɔ.fɪˈkiːs.kɔr] (Classical Latin, narrow) [pro.fiˈt͡ʃis.kor] (narrow) |
| egredior | [eːˈɡrɛ.di.ɔr] (Classical Latin, narrow) [eˈɡrɛː.di.or] (narrow) |
| descisco | [deːsˈkiːs.koː] (Classical Latin, narrow) [deʃˈʃis.ko] (narrow) |
While all these forms translate to 'to leave' or 'to depart', Latin uses specific verbs to indicate the nature of the movement, such as whether you are exiting a building, setting out on a journey or withdrawing from a situation.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the nuance of your departure:
– exeō is specifically used when the departure involves moving from the inside of a place to the outside. – abeo emphasizes the act of moving away from a person or a specific place. – proficiscor is used when the focus is on the beginning of a journey or setting out on a trip. – egredior often implies a physical stepping out or emerging from a space. – decedo is often used to describe withdrawing from a situation or a position. – abambulo, discedo and descisco are also forms of leaving.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb proficiscor is a deponent verb, which means it uses passive forms to express an active meaning such as 'I set out'.
Did you know?
- The word decedo is the ancestor of the English word 'deceased'. While it means 'to leave' or 'withdraw', it was used as a euphemism for leaving life itself.
- The verb abambulō is built from the prefix 'away' and ambulō, which is the root of the English word 'ambulate'.
- If you use the verb decedo, you are conceptually 'descending' or 'moving down' from a position or a place.
Examples in context
- Profecto eum in pace discedere volo.I genuinely want him to leave in peace.
- Omnes iussit ex aula recedere.He ordered everyone to leave the hall.
- Noli hic manere, abi!Don't stay here, just go!
- Vade et me in pace relinque.Go and leave me in peace.
- Discede, te hic non volo.Leave, I don't want you here.
- Nunc exeō ex horto.Now I leave the garden.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “leave” translations and entries abeo, abambulo, decedo, discedo, proficiscor, egredior, descisco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries abambulo, abeo, decedo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
