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"Despedí" is a form of "despedir", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to say goodbye to". "Apenas" is a form of "apenas", an adverb which is often translated as "barely". Learn more about the difference between "despedí" and "apenas" below.
despedir(
dehs
-
peh
-
deer
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to say goodbye to
Despidió a su amiga para irse a clase.She said goodbye to her friend and headed to class.
b. to see off
Mi hermana va a viajar por Europa, así que vamos a despedirla al aeropuerto.My sister's going traveling around Europe, so we're seeing her off at the airport.
a. to fire (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Despidieron al empleado acusado de acoso sexual.They fired the employee accused of sexual harassment.
b. to dismiss
Un empleador no puede despedir a un empleado fijo sin tener un motivo de peso.An employer can't dismiss a permanent employee without good reason.
c. to lay off
Despidieron a miles de trabajadores durante la crisis financiera.Thousands of employees were laid off during the financial crisis.
d. to sack (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
No entiendo por qué me despidieron. Yo hacía exactamente lo que me pedían que hiciera.I don't understand why they sacked me. I was doing exactly what they asked me to do.
e. to give the sack (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Descubrieron que su contable les estaba robando y lo despidieron.They found out their accountant was stealing from them and they gave him the sack.
f. to let go
Me temo que tenemos que despedirte porque necesitamos hacer recortes.I'm afraid we're going to have to let you go because we need to make cutbacks.
g. to make redundant (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
En 2015 la empresa hizo una reestructuración de personal y despidió a 50 empleados.In 2015 the company restructured its workforce and made 50 employees redundant.
3. (to emit)
a. to give off
El hedor que despedía era como el de una tumba.The stench he gave off was like that of a tomb.
despedirse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to say goodbye
¡Nos despedimos del 2023 con muchos fuegos artificiales!We said goodbye to 2023 with a lot of fireworks!
apenas(
ah
-
peh
-
nahs
)An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
2. (short time)
A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, clauses, or sentences (e.g., The cat and the dog slept.).
