dejar
/deˈxaɾ/
The English phrase 'set down' can be translated into Spanish as dejar.
dejar is used when you want to express the act of leaving an object on a surface.
Meaning: to place on a surface (verb)
Which one should you use?
While dejar emphasizes the act of leaving something on a surface, the verb poner focuses more on the active motion of placing it there.
How does it change in a sentence?
The gerund form, used for 'setting down', is dejando and the third-person singular preterite form, used for 'he/she/it set down', is dejó.
How do you pronounce it?
/deˈxaɾ/
Did you know?
- The word dejar is a linguistic relative of the English word 'laxative', as both stem from the Latin root for 'to loosen' or 'to make free'.
- If a Spanish speaker says déjalo, they might mean 'set it down', 'leave it alone' or 'forget about it' depending on the context.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying dejar when referring to a person can imply abandonment rather than just 'leaving' them.
Examples in context
- Por favor, coloque el libro en la mesa.Please set the book down on the table.
- La camarera colocó los platos sobre la bandeja.The waitress set the plates down on the tray.
- ¡Por favor, deposite el paquete con cautela!Please set the package down carefully!
- El joyero depositó la joya en la vitrina.The jeweler set the jewel down in the display case.
- ¡Pon los libros en la mesa!Set the books down on the table!
- Dejé el paquete en el mostrador.I set the package down on the counter.
- Él deja la taza en la mesita.He sets the cup down on the small table.
- Deja las llaves sobre la mesa.Set the keys down on the table.
- Puedes dejar las llaves en la mesa.You can leave the keys on the table.
- Voy a dejar el paquete en la entrada.I am going to set the package down at the entrance.
Example conversation
Alejandro is helping María carry groceries into her house.
- MaríaAlejandro, ¿puedes dejar la bolsa en la cocina?Alejandro, can you set the bag down in the kitchen?
- AlejandroSí, la dejo sobre la encimera.Yes, I'll set it down on the counter.
- MaríaGracias, es muy pesada.Thank you, it is very heavy.
- AlejandroNo hay problema, María.No problem, María.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry dejar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dejar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
