deshacer
/desaˈθeɾ/
To undo in Spanish is deshacer. It is also spelled desfacer.
Meaning: to reverse (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| deshacer | /desaˈθeɾ/ /desaˈseɾ/ |
|
| desfacer | /desfaθeɾ/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /desfaseɾ/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
alternative form |
What does it mean word for word?
The verb is composed of the prefix des- (un-/dis-) and hacer (to do/make).
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb deshacer is an irregular verb in many tenses, particularly in the preterite (past tense) where the stem changes to deshecho in the past participle. The past participle deshecho is used to form compound tenses or to function as an adjective meaning 'undone'. When using the verb with the direct object pronoun 'it' (lo), the pronoun is attached to the end of the infinitive to form deshacerlo.
How do you pronounce it?
/desaˈθeɾ/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, if you 'undo' a knot, you use deshacer, but if you 'undo' a button or a zipper, you might use desabrochar. Using deshacer for a button would sound like you are physically destroying the button's structure.
- The past participle deshecho, meaning 'undone', is a homonym for desecho, which means 'waste' or 'scrap'. Only the context of the sentence reveals if something is simply undone or is actually trash.
- In a romantic or emotional context, deshacerse de alguien means 'to get rid of someone'. Here, 'undoing' someone is a euphemism for ending a relationship or removing a person from one's life.
Examples in context
- Tenemos que deshacer lo hecho.We have to undo what was done.This example shows how to use deshacer to talk about undoing something that was done.Tatoeba #2270010 by cueyayotl, translation #2270009 by _undertoad
- No puedo deshacerlo.I can't undo it.This sentence shows how to use the form deshacerlo to say 'to undo it'.Tatoeba #1808284 by marcelostockle, translation #826005 by U2FS
- No se puede deshacer lo que ya se ha hecho.You cannot undo what has already been done.This sentence uses deshacer to express that something already done cannot be undone.Tatoeba #545274 by darinmex, translation #545272 by darinmex
- Por favor, deshaga los cambiosPlease undo the changes
- El contrato quedó anuladoThe contract was undone
- Es necesario revertir los cambios recientesIt is necessary to undo the recent changes
- No puedo deshacer ese errorI can't undo that mistake
- Anulé el pedido por errorI accidentally undid the order
- Vamos a revertir el procesoWe are going to undo the process
- Borré todo lo que escribíI undid/erased everything I wrote
- No me gusta, vamos a volver atrásI don't like it, let's undo it
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are looking at a mistake in a document.
- MateoHay un error en el párrafo.There is an error in the paragraph.
- María¿Podemos deshacer el último cambio?Can we undo the last change?
- MateoSí, es fácil deshacerlo.Yes, it is easy to undo it.
- MaríaPerfecto, así lo arreglamos.Perfect, that way we fix it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “undo” translations and entries deshacer, desfacer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
