renunciar
/renunˈθjaɾ/
To step down in Spanish is to say renunciar. Wiktionary also lists dimitir.
Meaning: to resign or retire from a position (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| renunciar | /renunˈθjaɾ/ /renunˈsjaɾ/ |
| dimitir | /dimiˈtiɾ/ |
renunciar is used when a person voluntarily leaves a position, whereas other verbs might be used if one is being forced out.
Which one should you use?
While both mean to step down, dimitir is more formal and is typically used in news reports or official statements regarding high-ranking officials. renunciar is the more common, everyday term for stepping down from a job, but it can also mean 'to renounce' or 'to give up' something else entirely.
How does it change in a sentence?
When specifying the position or office one is stepping down from, you must use the preposition a after the verb, as in renunciar a su cargo.
How do you pronounce it?
/renunˈθjaɾ/
Did you know?
- The word renunciar is a learned borrowing from the Latin renuntiāre, meaning it was reintroduced into the language by scholars rather than evolving naturally from Vulgar Latin.
- In some Spanish-speaking countries, renunciar is used in legal contexts to describe the act of waiving a right or a legal claim, not just leaving a job.
- In Spanish, renunciar can be used to describe a spiritual or ascetic choice, such as when a monk steps down from worldly pleasures.
Examples in context
- El Presidente renunció a su cargo.The President stepped down from his position.
- El Director General dimitió de su puesto.The CEO stepped down from his position.
- Decidió dejar su trabajo en la empresa.He decided to step down from his job at the company.
- El director decidió renunciar a su cargo.The director decided to resign from his position.
- Ella tiene que renunciar mañana.She has to step down tomorrow.
- ¿Por qué vas a renunciar al equipo?Why are you going to resign from the team?
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are talking about their boss in the office.
- LucíaJavier, ¿supiste que el jefe va a renunciar?Javier, did you hear that the boss is going to step down?
- JavierNo, no sabía nada de eso.No, I didn't know anything about that.
- LucíaParece que es una decisión difícil para él.It seems like it is a difficult decision for him.
- JavierEs una lástima que él renuncie ahora.It's a shame that he is stepping down now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “step down” translations and entries renunciar, dimitir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dimitir, renunciar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
