despedir (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Despedir is a verb.

Phonetic Transcription

/dɛs.peˈðiɾ/

Translation Options into English

• To say goodbye
• To dismiss
• To fire (in a job context)

Meaning and Usage

Despedir means to say farewell or to part ways, often in a formal or emotional context. In a professional or legal context, it can also mean to dismiss someone from their job. The verb is widely used in both oral and written Spanish, but it tends to be more frequent in written contexts, particularly in formal communications such as letters of termination or legal documents.

Example Sentences

1. Despedir es una parte difícil de la vida laboral.
   Saying goodbye is a difficult part of working life.

2. El jefe decidió despedir a varios empleados.
   The boss decided to fire several employees.

3. Siempre es triste despedir a un amigo.
   It is always sad to say goodbye to a friend.

Idiomatic Expressions

Despedir is commonly used in various idiomatic expressions in Spanish. Below are some expressions and example sentences.

Examples of Idiomatic Expressions

1. Despedir a alguien con los honores.
   To bid farewell to someone with honors.
   "El ejército decidió despedir a su comandante con los honores que merecía."
   The army decided to bid farewell to its commander with the honors he deserved.

2. Despedirse a la francesa.
   To leave without saying goodbye.
   "Siempre se despide a la francesa de las fiestas, dejando a todos confundidos."
   He always leaves the parties without saying goodbye, leaving everyone confused.

3. No hay que despedir a la esperanza.
   One should not lose hope.
   "En momentos difíciles, no hay que despedir a la esperanza."
   In difficult times, one should not lose hope.

4. Despedir el año.
   To say goodbye to the year.
   "Cada diciembre, nos reunimos para despedir el año con una gran fiesta."
   Every December, we gather to say goodbye to the year with a big party.

Etymology

The verb despedir comes from the Latin term dispedire, where dis- means "apart" and pedire means "to set free". The transformation reflects the action of sending someone away or making them depart.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - Echar (to throw out) - Dimitir (to resign) - Separar (to separate)

Antonyms: - Recibir (to receive) - Contratar (to hire) - Unir (to unite)

In summary, despedir is a versatile verb used in various contexts, conveying the ideas of farewell and dismissal, with significant importance in both everyday conversation and formal communication.