verb

despedir

fire · lay off

Es hacer que alguien se vaya de un lugar, ya sea para decirle adiós o para indicarle que deje un trabajo.

Word: despedir

Meaning in English: The Spanish verb "despedir" primarily means "to say goodbye" or "to bid farewell". It is commonly used when someone leaves or when people part ways. However, "despedir" can also mean "to fire" or "to dismiss" someone from a job or position.

Different meanings:

To say goodbye / to take leave:
- Used when someone leaves or when two or more people part ways.
- Example: Voy a despedir a mis amigos antes de irme — "I am going to say goodbye to my friends before I leave."
To fire or dismiss someone:
- Used in a work context to mean terminating someone's employment.
- Example: La empresa tuvo que despedir a varios empleados — "The company had to fire several employees."

Word components:

Prefix: des- can sometimes express reversal or removal.
Root: pedir means "to ask" or "to request."
However, the meaning of "despedir" as a whole does not directly connect to "des-" + "pedir" in a literal way; it has an idiomatic meaning.

Synonyms:

For "say goodbye"
- decir adiós (to say goodbye)
- farewell (in English usage context)
For "fire or dismiss"
- cesar (to cease/fire)
- desalojar (to evict, more used in other contexts)
- destituir (to dismiss or remove from office)
- echar (colloquial for "to throw out" or fire)

Antonyms:

For "say goodbye"
- saludar (to greet)
- recibir (to receive or welcome)
For "fire/dismiss"
- contratar (to hire)
- emplear (to employ)

Summary: "Despedir" is a versatile Spanish verb often used to mean either "to say goodbye" or "to fire/dismiss" an employee, depending on the context. It involves bidding farewell or terminating an employment relationship.