Meaning and behavior
What does despedir mean?
Despedir means to dismiss. VerbyGo classifies it as an irregular -IR verb. It is non-reflexive.
to fire from a job; to say goodbye (to someone).
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- despedir
- Gerund
- despidiendo
- Past participle
- despedido
Verified irregular pattern
How this verb behaves
Its forms differ from a fully regular -ir pattern in the present, preterite.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of despedir for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Despedir |
|---|---|
| yo | despido |
| tú | despides |
| él / ella / usted | despide |
| nosotros / nosotras | despedimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | despedís |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | despiden |
Present forms
Present progressive
Use present estar with despidiendo for an action in progress now.
| Subject | Despedir |
|---|---|
| yo | estoy despidiendo |
| tú | estás despidiendo |
| él / ella / usted | está despidiendo |
| nosotros / nosotras | estamos despidiendo |
| vosotros / vosotras | estáis despidiendo |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | están despidiendo |
Present forms
Present perfect continuous
Use present haber, estado and despidiendo to emphasize an activity continuing into the present.
| Subject | Despedir |
|---|---|
| yo | he estado despidiendo |
| tú | has estado despidiendo |
| él / ella / usted | ha estado despidiendo |
| nosotros / nosotras | hemos estado despidiendo |
| vosotros / vosotras | habéis estado despidiendo |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | han estado despidiendo |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of despedir is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Despedir |
|---|---|
| yo | despedí |
| tú | despediste |
| él / ella / usted | despidió |
| nosotros / nosotras | despedimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | despedisteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | despidieron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of despedir, or for background information.
| Subject | Despedir |
|---|---|
| yo | despedía |
| tú | despedías |
| él / ella / usted | despedía |
| nosotros / nosotras | despedíamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | despedíais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | despedían |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of despedir for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Despedir |
|---|---|
| yo | despediré |
| tú | despedirás |
| él / ella / usted | despedirá |
| nosotros / nosotras | despediremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | despediréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | despedirán |
Conjugation guide
Subjunctive forms
Subjunctive forms
Present subjunctive
Use these forms when a current wish, reaction, doubt or another trigger requires the subjunctive.
| Subject | Despedir |
|---|---|
| yo | despida |
| tú | despidas |
| él / ella / usted | despida |
| nosotros / nosotras | despidamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | despidáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | despidan |
Subjunctive forms
Imperfect subjunctive
Use these forms for past subjunctive contexts and hypothetical structures; the equivalent -se series is also accepted where supplied.
| Subject | Despedir |
|---|---|
| yo | despidieraAlso accepted: despidiese |
| tú | despidierasAlso accepted: despidieses |
| él / ella / usted | despidieraAlso accepted: despidiese |
| nosotros / nosotras | despidiéramosAlso accepted: despidiésemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | despidieraisAlso accepted: despidieseis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | despidieranAlso accepted: despidiesen |
Conjugation guide
Commands
Commands
Affirmative commands
Choose the affirmative command of despedir that matches the person being addressed.
| Subject | Despedir |
|---|---|
| tú | despide |
| usted | despida |
| nosotros / nosotras | despidamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | despedid |
| ustedes | despidan |
Commands
Negative commands
Use no with the matching command form of despedir.
| Subject | Despedir |
|---|---|
| tú | no despidas |
| usted | no despida |
| nosotros / nosotras | no despidamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | no despidáis |
| ustedes | no despidan |
Verified context
Examples with despedir
Tom no despedirá a Mary.
Tom won't fire Mary.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRNo sé por qué despidieron a Tom.
I don't know why Tom was fired.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR¿Te despidieron de tu último trabajo?
Did you get fired from your last job?
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Despedir FAQ
What does despedir mean?
Despedir means to dismiss.
Is despedir regular or irregular?
Despedir is a irregular -IR verb.
What is the gerund of despedir?
The gerund of despedir is despidiendo.
What is the past participle of despedir?
The past participle of despedir is despedido.
How is despedir conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is despido, despides, despide, despedimos, despiden.
How is despedir conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is despedí, despediste, despidió, despedimos, despidieron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.