How to Use “Deixar” in Portuguese for Letting, Leaving, and Allowing

Introduction

Deixar is one of the most useful verbs in Brazilian Portuguese. It can mean to let, to leave, to allow, or to cause something to happen depending on context. This article explains how to use deixar in everyday speech, shows common conjugations, and gives clear examples and cultural notes to help English-speaking learners master this versatile verb.

What does deixar mean?

Deixar has several related meanings: to let or allow, to leave behind, to put or place, and to cause or make something happen. In English these senses map to verbs like let, leave, allow, and make. The meaning depends on sentence structure, accompanying words, and whether an object or an infinitive follows the verb.

Core senses and quick examples

Let or allow: Eu deixei meu filho sair mais cedo.
Leave behind: Ela deixou o guarda-chuva no ônibus.
Cause or make: Isso deixou todo mundo feliz.
Put or place: Deixa o livro aqui.

Basic conjugation and common forms

Deixar is a regular -ar verb. Here are a few essential forms you will see often:

Infinitive: deixar
Present: eu deixo, você deixa, ele/ela deixa, nós deixamos, vocês deixam, eles/elas deixam
Past (pretérito perfeito): eu deixei, você deixou, ele/ela deixou, nós deixamos, vocês deixaram, eles/elas deixaram
Imperfect (pretérito imperfeito): eu deixava, você deixava, ele/ela deixava, nós deixávamos, vocês deixavam, eles/elas deixavam
Future: eu deixarei, você deixará, ele/ela deixará, nós deixaremos, vocês deixarão, eles/elas deixarão

Gerund and past participle

Gerund: deixando
Past participle: deixado (used with ter or estar to form compound tenses)

Using deixar to mean let or allow

One of the most common uses is to express permission. In Portuguese this structure usually uses deixar followed by an infinitive. The subject who gives permission + deixar + person or nothing + verb in the infinitive.

Examples that show permission:

Minha mãe deixou eu ir à festa. (My mother let me go to the party.)
O chefe deixou os funcionários saírem mais cedo hoje. (The boss let the employees leave earlier today.)

Notes:

Both direct object pronouns (me, te, o, a, nos, etc.) and a full noun or pronoun can be used after deixar. In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, eu deixei eu ir and minha mãe deixou eu ir are quite common, although purists might prefer minha mãe deixou-me ir or minha mãe deixou que eu fosse.

Using deixar que + subjunctive

When the sentence introduces a dependent clause, Brazilians often use deixar que + subjunctive. This is more formal and emphasizes permission for an action described in a clause.

Example:

O professor deixou que os alunos fizessem a prova mais tarde. (The teacher allowed the students to take the test later.)

Note about the subjunctive:

After deixar que, use the subjunctive (fizessem, fosse, venham) when the action is hypothetical, desired, or not yet completed. In casual speech many speakers use the indicative instead, but the subjunctive is grammatically correct in these cases.

Using deixar to mean leave or leave behind

Deixar also means to leave something or someone in a place. This sense is transitive: you leave an object or person somewhere, often with a prepositional phrase indicating location.

Examples:

Eu deixei as chaves na mesa. (I left the keys on the table.)
Você deixou o cachorro no apartamento? (Did you leave the dog in the apartment?)

Note on reflexive use:

To express leaving somewhere yourself you typically use sair (to leave, to go out). Deixar in this sense normally involves leaving something or someone behind rather than departing oneself.

Using deixar to mean cause or make

Another common meaning is to describe a result or effect, similar to make or cause in English. Structure: subject + deixar + object + adjective.

Examples:

A notícia deixou todo mundo feliz. (The news made everyone happy.)
Essa música me deixa muito tranquilo. (That song makes me very calm.)

Notes on pronouns and reflexivity:

When the speaker is affected, use object pronouns or reflexive structures. For example, isso me deixou nervoso uses me to show the effect on the speaker.

Imperative and everyday commands with deixar

Deixar appears frequently in informal commands and requests. In spoken Brazilian Portuguese you will hear forms like deixa, deixe, deixem depending on politeness and number.

Examples:

Deixa quieto! (Leave it alone! — informal)
Deixe as crianças brincarem. (Let the children play. — more polite/formal)
Deixem as cadeiras no corredor. (Leave the chairs in the hallway.)

Note on registers:

Deixa (informal, used with você or tu in some regions) versus deixe (formal or third-person imperative). Brazilians often use deixa in casual speech even with strangers in relaxed contexts.

Common verbs and expressions that combine with deixar

Deixar appears in many fixed expressions and collocations. Learning these will help you sound natural.

Deixar claro — to make clear
Deixar de — to stop doing something, to quit (this is followed by an infinitive)
Deixar para depois — to leave for later, to postpone
Deixar com — to entrust, as in deixar com alguém

Examples:

Deixa claro que você não pode ir. (Make it clear that you cannot go.)
Ela deixou de fumar no ano passado. (She quit smoking last year.)
Deixa para depois, a gente resolve amanhã. (Leave it for later, we’ll sort it out tomorrow.)
Vou deixar o presente com a recepção. (I will leave the gift with the reception.)

Deixar de + infinitive: stop or fail to

This structure is important because it means to stop doing something or to fail to do something, depending on context. It is not the same as leave as in abandonment.

Examples:

Ele deixou de estudar e reprovou. (He stopped studying and failed.)
Não deixe de visitar o museu quando for ao centro. (Don’t fail to visit the museum when you go downtown; or more simply, don’t forget to visit.)

Pronouns and word order with deixar

Portuguese pronoun placement can change depending on whether the sentence is affirmative, negative, or an imperative. In spoken Brazilian Portuguese you will often hear the object pronoun after the verb in affirmatives (mesoclisis is rare in speech), but formal writing prefers clitic placement before or attached depending on rules.

Examples:

Ela deixou-me o recado. (She left me the message — formal/written)
Ela me deixou o recado. (She left me the message — common spoken order)
Não deixe-me sair. (Do not let me leave — formal)
Não me deixe sair. (Do not let me leave — common spoken)

Tip:

For beginners, follow spoken Brazilian Portuguese norms: place object pronouns before the verb only after negation or in polite commands like não me deixe, but otherwise use pronouns after the verb when speaking informally (deixou-me vs me deixou).

Colloquial uses and regional notes

In Brazil you will hear many casual uses of deixar that reflect regional speech and fast conversation. For example, deixa pra lá is a very common idiom meaning forget it or never mind. In many regions people use deixa instead of deixe in informal speech: deixa eu ver instead of deixe-me ver or deixe eu ver.

Examples:

Deixa pra lá, não vale a pena. (Never mind, it’s not worth it.)
Deixa eu ver seu celular. (Let me see your phone. — very colloquial)

Cultural note:

Using deixa eu ver is perfectly normal in casual Brazilian conversations. However, in formal situations, job interviews, presentations, or written Portuguese, prefer deixe-me ver or deixe eu ver depending on register.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Mistake 1: Confusing deixar de + infinitive with deixar + infinitive. Remember that deixar de means to stop or fail to do something, while deixar + infinitive means to allow or let someone do something.

Examples:

Eu deixei de fumar. means I quit smoking.
Eu deixei fumar. is ambiguous and unusual — it could mean I allowed someone to smoke.

Mistake 2: Incorrect pronoun placement. Follow spoken norms for conversation, and learn formal clitic positions for writing. If unsure, use full nouns or pronouns for clarity: minha mãe deixou eu ir is clear in speech, while minha mãe deixou que eu fosse is clear in writing.

Mistake 3: Overusing deixar to mean leave when sair is better. For leaving a place yourself, usar sair is more natural: Eu saí cedo vs Eu deixei cedo (which is incorrect).

Examples across tenses and meanings

Present permission: Minha chefe deixa eu trabalhar de casa hoje. (My boss lets me work from home today.)
Past leave behind: Ontem deixei meu casaco no restaurante. (Yesterday I left my coat at the restaurant.)
Result/cause: Aquela notícia deixou todos emocionados. (That news left everyone emotional / made everyone emotional.)
Imperative: Deixa a porta aberta, por favor. (Leave the door open, please.)
Deixar de: Ele deixou de ligar para os amigos. (He stopped calling his friends.)

Practical tips for learners

1. Memorize common patterns: deixar + infinitive for permission, deixar de + infinitive for stop, deixar + object + place for leaving something behind, and deixar + object + adjective for cause/effect.
2. Listen to native speakers and note colloquial phrases like deixa pra lá and deixa eu ver.
3. Practice switching between deixei, deixou, deixaram and deixava to get a feel for past narrative vs habitual actions.
4. When in doubt, use deixar que + subjunctive for formal permission and deixar + infinitive for casual permission.

Conclusion

Deixar is a flexible verb you will use every day in Brazilian Portuguese. By learning its main senses — allow, leave behind, cause, and stop — and practicing key constructions like deixar + infinitive, deixar de + infinitive, and deixar que + subjunctive, you will quickly improve both comprehension and fluency. Pay attention to colloquial uses such as deixa eu ver and deixa pra lá, and practice pronoun placement to sound natural in conversation.