abandonar
Decidió abandonar el proyecto por falta de fondos.
He decided to abandon the project due to lack of funds.
to leave behind or give up completely
Abandonó a su familia y se fue al extranjero.
He abandoned his family and went abroad.
Can imply both physical departure and emotional detachment.
to stop doing or pursuing something
Abandonó sus estudios universitarios el primer año.
He abandoned his university studies in the first year.
Often used for habits, projects, or responsibilities.
to desert or leave someone in a difficult situation
Nunca me abandonaría en un momento así.
He would never abandon me in a moment like this.
Common in emotional or moral contexts.
Collocations
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Reflexive vs. Non-reflexive
Use 'abandonar' (non-reflexive) for leaving something/someone behind. Use 'abandonarse' (reflexive) for emotional surrender, e.g., 'Se abandonó a la desesperación' (He gave in to despair).
Gold Rule
Transitivity
Always specify what is being abandoned: 'abandonar + [direct object]', e.g., 'abandonar el coche' (to abandon the car), 'abandonar a los amigos' (to abandon friends).
Word Origin
From Latin *abandonare* (to give up), derived from *ab-* (away) + *bannum* (proclamation, decree), originally meaning 'to proclaim someone an outlaw' in medieval Latin.
Usage Notes
In Spanish, 'abandonar' can be transitive (abandonar algo/a alguien) or pronominal (abandonarse) in contexts like 'abandonarse a la tristeza' (to give in to sadness). The reflexive form often implies emotional surrender.