el despido

The Spanish word "despido" primarily means "dismissal" or "firing" in English, referring to the termination of employment by an employer.

Meaning and Explanation:

• Despido comes from the verb "despedir", which means "to dismiss," "to fire," or "to say goodbye."
• It specifically refers to the act or process of terminating someone's job or contract.
• In labor contexts, "el despido" refers to the firing or layoff of an employee.

Parts:

• des-: a prefix meaning "undo," "reverse," or "remove."
• -pido: related to the verb "pedir" (to ask/request), but in this case "despedir" is a bound verb implying "to send away" or "to dismiss."

Synonyms:

• Terminación (termination, especially contract termination)
• Despido laboral (employment dismissal)
• Cesantía (unemployment, layoff)
• Separación (separation, in HR terms)

Antonyms:

• Contratación (hiring)
• Incorporación (joining)
• Empleo (employment, when used to mean hiring)

Additional Meanings or Usage:

• Less commonly, "despido" can also mean sending off or farewell, derived from "despedir" as "to say goodbye," though this usage is rare and usually contextual.

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Summary:
"Despido" mainly refers to the firing or dismissal of an employee from a job. It derives from the verb "despedir," meaning "to send away" or "to dismiss." Its opposites are terms related to hiring and incorporation into a job.