Vocabulary

Level: A2
Accent: 1 accent
Time: 15 min

Learn Spanish: Dejar vs. Olvidar for Leaving Items and Forgetting

By MicroSpanish editorial team Published 7 Nov 2026

The short answer

Use dejar when someone sets, puts, or leaves an item in a place. Use olvidar when someone forgets an appointment, a number, a chore, or fails to bring an item because it slipped their mind.

Key points

Ask yourself whether the sentence focuses on the physical place where an item is left (dejar) or on a lapse in memory (olvidar).
Pair dejar with a destination or surface, such as una mesa, la oficina, or una caja.
Pair olvidar with a forgotten noun or an infinitive verb describing a missed action.

Start the lesson

This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.

Stage 1 of 5

Understand

What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.

Examples

Dejo mis gafas de lectura sobre el libro.

I leave my reading glasses on top of the book.

Why it works: Dejo describes placing a physical item onto a surface.

2 more examples

A menudo olvido el nombre de la nueva vecina.

I often forget the new neighbor's name.

Olvido expresses a failure to recall a piece of information.
Manuel deja los documentos en la oficina antes de salir.

Manuel leaves the documents at the office before leaving.

Deja marks the intentional placement of papers in a work location.

Read the full guide

8 short steps, one check each

Use dejar for placing objects in a specific place

Beginners often wonder how to say they set an item down in a room or left it on a surface.

The problem: Beginners often wonder how to say they set an item down in a room or left it on a surface.

When you put an object in a spot or leave it with someone, use the verb dejar. It names the practical action of placing something down.

Dejo las llaves en la mesa de la entrada.

I leave the keys on the entryway table.

Why it works: Dejo indicates placing the keys on a specific surface.
Nosotros dejamos los abrigos en el armario.

We leave the coats in the closet.

Why it works: Dejamos expresses storing or putting items in a physical location.

Your turn

Choose the sentence that describes putting an umbrella in the corner of a room.

Show the answer

Answer: Dejo el paraguas en la esquina.

Dejo describes placing the object in a physical location.

Use olvidar for forgetting information or facts

Learners sometimes use spatial verbs when they mean that a piece of information slipped their memory.

The problem: Learners sometimes use spatial verbs when they mean that a piece of information slipped their memory.

When a name, number, password, or date disappears from your memory, use olvidar. In this context, it focuses on the mental lapse of forgetting factual information.

Siempre olvido el código de la puerta.

I always forget the door code.

Why it works: Olvido refers to a fact slipping from memory.
Marta olvida la dirección de la tienda.

Marta forgets the address of the store.

Why it works: Olvida expresses forgetting factual information.

You can practise this again in Learn Spanish: Elegir vs. Decidir for Choosing Items and Deciding to Act and Learn Spanish: Limpiar vs. Lavar for Cleaning Surfaces and Washing Items.

Your turn

Which option expresses that someone does not remember an important telephone number?

Show the answer

Answer: Olvido el número de teléfono con frecuencia.

Olvido indicates that information has escaped memory.

Use olvidar with an infinitive for forgotten actions

Learners need a clear pattern when they fail to perform a scheduled chore or task.

The problem: Learners need a clear pattern when they fail to perform a scheduled chore or task.

When you forget to do an activity, follow olvidar with an infinitive verb. This construction describes the chore or action you did not remember to carry out.

Carlos olvida cerrar la ventana del dormitorio.

Carlos forgets to close the bedroom window.

Why it works: Olvida followed by the infinitive cerrar indicates an omitted action.
A veces olvido apagar la luz de la cocina.

Sometimes I forget to turn off the kitchen light.

Why it works: Olvido apagar shows failing to execute a routine task.

Your turn

Select the sentence stating that a person forgot to buy fresh fruit at the market.

Show the answer

Answer: Olvido comprar fruta fresca hoy.

Olvido followed by an infinitive expresses failing to complete a planned task.

Distinguish forgetting information from forgetting to do a task

Learners sometimes confuse forgetting a piece of factual information with forgetting to carry out an activity.

The problem: Learners sometimes confuse forgetting a piece of factual information with forgetting to carry out an activity.

When a fact, code, or name slips your mind, pair olvidar directly with a noun. When you fail to carry out an action, follow olvidar with an infinitive verb.

Olvido la dirección de la oficina nueva.

I forget the address of the new office.

Why it works: Olvido is paired directly with a noun to show a forgotten piece of information.
Olvido llamar a la oficina nueva.

I forget to call the new office.

Why it works: Olvido is followed by an infinitive to show an unperformed action.

Your turn

Which sentence expresses forgetting to perform a task rather than forgetting a specific code or number?

Show the answer

Answer: Olvido guardar la ropa limpia hoy.

Olvido followed by the infinitive guardar expresses failing to perform a chore rather than forgetting factual information.

Decide between physical placement and forgetting to bring an item

Learners often mix up placing an item intentionally versus forgetting to take it along.

The problem: Learners often mix up placing an item intentionally versus forgetting to take it along.

When you focus on the physical place where an item stays, use dejar, even if leaving it behind was unintentional. When you focus specifically on the memory lapse of not remembering to bring the item, use olvidar.

Dejo la bicicleta en casa porque voy en tren.

I leave the bicycle at home because I am taking the train.

Why it works: Dejo identifies the home location where the bicycle is left.
Hoy olvidé la cartera en casa por salir con prisa.

Today I forgot my wallet at home because I left in a hurry.

Why it works: Olvidé expresses an unintended past memory lapse that resulted in leaving the wallet behind.

Your turn

Choose the option that describes intentionally leaving a heavy book on the desk because you do not need it today.

Show the answer

Answer: Dejo el libro pesado en el escritorio porque no lo necesito.

Dejo specifies leaving the book in a physical spot because it is not needed.

Choose between handing an item to someone and forgetting to deliver it

Learners need to distinguish entrusting an item to a person from failing to give it to them.

The problem: Learners need to distinguish entrusting an item to a person from failing to give it to them.

When you describe leaving an object with a person or in their care, use dejar with con. When you focus on the memory lapse of failing to deliver or hand over the item, pair olvidar with an infinitive like entregar.

Dejo el paquete con el portero del edificio.

I leave the package with the building doorman.

Why it works: Dejo con indicates leaving the package in the doorman's care.
Olvido entregar el paquete al portero.

I forget to deliver the package to the doorman.

Why it works: Olvido followed by entregar indicates failing to complete the delivery.

Your turn

Select the sentence that describes forgetting to hand an important envelope to a coworker.

Show the answer

Answer: Olvido entregar el sobre importante al compañero.

Olvido entregar expresses failing to complete the action of handing the envelope to the coworker.

Distinguish placing an item from forgetting where it was put

Beginners sometimes mix up reporting where an item is resting and stating that they cannot remember its location.

The problem: Beginners sometimes mix up reporting where an item is resting and stating that they cannot remember its location.

When you report where an object is placed, use dejar with that location. When you describe the memory lapse of not remembering where an item was put or left, pair olvidar with dónde.

Dejo el coche en el estacionamiento norte.

I leave the car in the north parking lot.

Why it works: Dejo specifies the physical location where the vehicle is placed.
A menudo olvido dónde dejo las llaves del coche.

I often forget where I leave the car keys.

Why it works: Olvido followed by dónde describes a recurring lapse in remembering where an item was left.

Your turn

Which sentence expresses that someone cannot recall where they placed their glasses?

Show the answer

Answer: Olvido dónde pongo las gafas de lectura.

Olvido describes a lapse in recalling the location where the glasses were put.

Distinguish leaving an item stored from forgetting to pick it up

Learners need to separate the planned act of leaving belongings somewhere from the mistake of forgetting to retrieve them.

The problem: Learners need to separate the planned act of leaving belongings somewhere from the mistake of forgetting to retrieve them.

When you state the location where belongings stay or are kept, use dejar. When you focus on the memory lapse of failing to collect or retrieve those belongings, use olvidar followed by an infinitive like recoger.

Dejo la maleta pesada en el hotel hasta la tarde.

I leave the heavy suitcase at the hotel until the afternoon.

Why it works: Dejo specifies the hotel location where the suitcase remains.
Olvido recoger la maleta del hotel antes del viaje.

I forget to pick up the suitcase from the hotel before the trip.

Why it works: Olvido followed by recoger shows failing to retrieve the stored item.

Your turn

Select the sentence where someone forgets to pick up their jacket from a restaurant.

Show the answer

Answer: Olvido recoger la chaqueta del restaurante al salir.

Olvido followed by recoger expresses forgetting to retrieve the jacket upon leaving.

Before you go

Remember this

Ask yourself whether the sentence focuses on the physical place where an item is left (dejar) or on a lapse in memory (olvidar).

Stage 2 of 5