Did I use despedirse correctly here?

Question

I have been taught the pronominal verb “Despedirse” with preposition “de” but was not aware of the transitive definition that appears at http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/despedir

I was only aware of “despedir” as the transitive verb “to dismiss” or “to fire” someone.

By way of context I am wanting to say: "Do you want to see Maria and me tonight so that we can say goodbye (to each other) before you leave?"

My attempt is: "¿Quieres vernos a Maria y mi esta noche para que nos despidamos de nosotras antes de que salgas?"

Frankly it sounds a little clumsy to me so I am wondering whether;

• It is even close to correct or not,

• I could drop the “de nosotras” given that it´s clear someone is voluntarily leaving and not being fired.

I was also looking for the difference between Despedir and Despedirse for “to say goodbye” and when to use the transitive and when the reflexive but I think that question has been clearly explained here. http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/234365/can-someone-give-me-some-examples-using-these-two-verb-forms-despedirse-despedir

I´m just not sure that I´ve applied it correctly in my example. Thanks in advance.

Did you mean to say, in English, Maria and me? Maria and me are direct objects here. - DilKen, Apr 10, 2017

kenhuizenga - Thank you. corrected to read "Maria and me" - ErikainAndalusia, Apr 13, 2017

Answer 1

"Do you want to see Maria and I tonight so that we can say goodbye (to each other) .

¿quieres vernos a Maria y a mí ésta noche para que podamos despedirnos/ nos podamos despedir (mutuamente) antes de que te vayas/marches? .

This is the most acurate translation I can do. But it would sound better adding the verb venir.

¿Quieres venir a vernos a Maria y a mí ésta noche para que podamos despedirnos antes de que te marches?

Despedir has two translations.

To fire.

Te despido. I fire you. Estás despedido. ** you are fired**

me despido I fire myself.

To say goodbye.

You can also say te despido with this sense but it would sound weird and theatrical . It is more Common to use the reflexive and even more Common "decir adios" .

Me despido de ti= te digo adios =I say goodbye to you.

Please correct my English

as you have asked for corrections to your English - despedir has two translations. you are fired sounds more natural than I fire you. teatral = theatrical. I say goodbye to you is a better word order - Mardle, Apr 10, 2017

A lovely answer and despite my corrections very good English. - Mardle, Apr 10, 2017

Thank you very much for yours corrections Mardle. - 000a35ff, Apr 11, 2017

Thank you so much for the excellent answer. Sorry for delay in responding I've been 2 days without internet. Please note, there is also a correction to my English. (how embarrassing!) My original should have read "to see Maria and me" Direct objects. - ErikainAndalusia, Apr 13, 2017

Is "salir" incorrect for "leave town"? - ErikainAndalusia, Apr 13, 2017

It isn't incorrect to use salir. It depends on the context. Salir de la ciudad / de viaje are correct. - 000a35ff, Apr 13, 2017

But marcharse or irse are more clear with out a context - 000a35ff, Apr 13, 2017

Answer 2

You used CAN...... So that we would say:

¿Quieres vernos a María y a mí esta noche para que PODAMOS despedirnos antes de que te VAYAS?

Why SALGAS? That would only be if you go out of your house or if it is by plane SALGAS CON EL AVIÓN or SALGA EL AVIÓN.

Also ¿Nos quieres ver a María y a mi...........................?

The one you wrote could also be but it lacks the CAN aspect. De nosotras is not correct. Examples: Yo voy a despedir a María al aeropuerto. (say good-bye) Yo voy a darle un beso de despedida a María al aeropuerto. Yo me despedí de María en su casa porque no pude ir al aeropuerto. Nos despidieron en el aeropuerto con un fuerte abrazo. etc.

Me despidieron del trabajo. (fire) María fue despedida y ahora está desempleada. Cuando te despiden te deben dar una indemnización. Cobré el despido ayer.

As you may see the noun for saying good-bye is DESPEDIDA but the noun for the money you get for being fired is DESPIDO.

Thank you. I used "de nosotras" because I read somewhere that despedirse needs to be used when the subject of the verb is the people who are doing the leaving, followed by the preposition "de" as you have done in your examples. - ErikainAndalusia, Apr 13, 2017

OK in formulating my question I think I worked it out. If we are both leaving together we aren't saying goodbye to ourselves. We are saying goodbye to you (2nd person) or them/her (3rd person). Let me think this through again and I think I will get it. - ErikainAndalusia, Apr 13, 2017

Answer 3

Okay. So I have reworked my question a little as follows.

If I want to say;

"Do you (singular) want to see Maria and me tonight so that you can say goodbye to us before you (singular) leave?"

Is this better?

"Quieres venir a vernos a Maria y a mi esta noche para que (tu) te puedas despedir de nosotras antes de que te marches"

And if I want to say;

"Do you (singular) want to see Maria and me tonight so that you can say goodbye to me before you (both together) leave?"

Can it be?

"Quieres venir a vernos a Maria y a mi esta noche para que (vosotras) os podais despedir de mi antes de que os marcheis"

If in your English sentence the you can is a you ( plural) the Spanish sentence is ok. - 000a35ff, Apr 13, 2017

Yes it is both of the other people therefore pural you. Thank you so much I think I finally understand it now. Yaay!! - ErikainAndalusia, Apr 14, 2017