When someone is despedido, it means they have lost their job. This word is an adjective and it describes the person who was fired. It's often used when an employer decides to end someone's work contract.

For example, if a company says 'Juan fue despedido', it means Juan was fired from his job. It’s not a good thing to be despedido, as it means you no longer have that employment.

When someone is despedido, it means they have been fired or dismissed from their job. This is usually not a good thing! Imagine you work at a restaurant, and your boss tells you not to come back anymore – you have been despedido. It's often used when talking about losing a job in a negative way, not like resigning. So, if you hear someone say they were despedido, it means their employment was ended by their employer.

When someone is despedido, it means they have been fired or dismissed from their job. This word is an adjective, and it describes the state of being terminated from employment. For example, if your friend lost their job, you could say they are despedido.

It's an important word to know if you're discussing employment or job situations in Spanish. This term is commonly used in everyday conversations and news related to the workplace.

When someone is despedido, it means they have been fired or dismissed from their job. This term is commonly used in professional contexts to describe the termination of employment. For example, if a company decides to let an employee go, that employee is despedido. It's an important word to know if you're discussing employment situations or news about someone losing their job.

despedido in 30 Seconds

  • fired
  • dismissed
  • let go

Pronunciation Guide

UK /despeˈðiðo/
US /despeˈðiðo/
short
Rhymes With
ido partido sentido
Common Errors
  • Mispronouncing the 'd' as a hard 'd' like in 'dog' instead of the softer 'th' sound in 'them' or 'this'.
  • Not rolling the 'r' sound if you're aiming for a more authentic Spanish pronunciation (though a single flap 'r' is acceptable).

Grammar to Know

Past Participle as Adjective: 'Despedido' is the past participle of the verb 'despedir' (to fire). Past participles can function as adjectives, modifying nouns. They must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.

El empleado despedido estaba muy triste. (The fired employee was very sad.) La empleada despedida encontró un nuevo trabajo. (The fired employee (female) found a new job.)

Agreement in Gender and Number: When used as an adjective, 'despedido' changes its ending to agree with the noun it describes. -o for masculine singular, -a for feminine singular, -os for masculine plural, -as for feminine plural.

Los trabajadores despedidos protestaron. (The fired workers protested.) Las gerentes despedidas buscaron nuevas oportunidades. (The fired managers (female) looked for new opportunities.)

Verbs 'Ser' and 'Estar' with Past Participles: 'Despedido' can be used with both 'ser' and 'estar', but with different implications. 'Ser' + past participle describes an inherent characteristic or the result of an action. 'Estar' + past participle describes a state or condition.

Él fue despedido por bajo rendimiento. (He was fired for low performance. - focus on the action/cause) Él está despedido y no tiene trabajo. (He is fired and doesn't have a job. - focus on his current state)

Passive Voice with 'Ser': To express the passive voice (the action is done to the subject), 'ser' is used with the past participle. This emphasizes the action rather than the doer.

El director fue despedido por la junta directiva. (The director was fired by the board of directors.)

As a Noun: Sometimes, the past participle can be used as a noun, referring to the person who has been fired.

Los despedidos se reunieron para discutir sus opciones. (The fired (ones) met to discuss their options.)

Examples by Level

1

El hombre fue despedido.

The man was fired.

2

Ella está despedida.

She is fired.

3

Yo fui despedido de mi trabajo.

I was fired from my job.

4

¿Estás despedido?

Are you fired?

5

No quiero ser despedido.

I don't want to be fired.

6

El jefe despidió al empleado.

The boss fired the employee.

Here 'despidió' is the past tense of 'despedir' (to fire).

7

Los trabajadores fueron despedidos.

The workers were fired.

8

La mujer fue despedida ayer.

The woman was fired yesterday.

1

El empleado fue despedido por llegar tarde constantemente.

The employee was fired for consistently arriving late.

Past participle 'despedido' used with 'fue' (ser) to form the passive voice.

2

Después de la reestructuración de la empresa, muchos trabajadores fueron despedidos.

After the company's restructuring, many workers were dismissed.

Plural form 'despedidos' agrees with 'trabajadores'.

3

Se sintió muy triste cuando fue despedido de su primer trabajo.

He felt very sad when he was fired from his first job.

Reflexive verb 'sentirse' followed by 'despedido' acting as a predicate adjective.

4

La noticia de que sería despedido lo tomó por sorpresa.

The news that he would be fired caught him by surprise.

'Sería despedido' uses the conditional tense for future possibility in the past.

5

A pesar de ser un excelente profesional, fue despedido debido a la crisis económica.

Despite being an excellent professional, he was dismissed due to the economic crisis.

'A pesar de' (despite) introduces a concession.

6

Si no mejoraba su rendimiento, sabía que sería despedido.

If he didn't improve his performance, he knew he would be fired.

Conditional sentence with imperfect subjunctive and conditional tense.

7

Ella fue despedida sin justa causa, lo que la llevó a demandar a la empresa.

She was fired without just cause, which led her to sue the company.

'Sin justa causa' (without just cause) is a common legal phrase.

8

Los gerentes decidieron que el personal debía ser despedido de forma discreta.

The managers decided that the staff should be dismissed discreetly.

'Debía ser despedido' indicates an obligation or necessity in the past.

1

Se sintió completamente despedido de la conversación después de su comentario inapropiado.

He felt completely dismissed from the conversation after his inappropriate comment.

Here, 'despedido' is used metaphorically to mean 'dismissed' or 'excluded' from a conversation, showing an advanced understanding of its flexible application beyond just employment.

2

La idea fue despedida sin contemplaciones por el comité debido a su falta de viabilidad.

The idea was dismissed without contemplation by the committee due to its lack of viability.

This example demonstrates 'despedido' in a passive construction, referring to an idea being rejected, indicating a sophisticated grasp of sentence structure and broader semantic range.

3

A pesar de ser un empleado ejemplar, fue despedido por reestructuración de la empresa.

Despite being an exemplary employee, he was fired due to company restructuring.

A straightforward but impactful use of 'despedido' in a common employment context, demonstrating fluency in conveying unfortunate professional circumstances.

4

La propuesta, aunque innovadora, fue despedida por la junta directiva por considerarla demasiado arriesgada.

The proposal, although innovative, was dismissed by the board of directors for being considered too risky.

Similar to the second example, this uses 'despedido' for an idea/proposal, reinforcing its application beyond people, showcasing a nuanced understanding.

5

Tras la investigación, el director fue despedido de su cargo por mala conducta.

After the investigation, the director was dismissed from his position due to misconduct.

A formal use of 'despedido' in a professional and official context, indicating proficiency in expressing formal actions and consequences.

6

Se rumorea que el entrenador será despedido si el equipo no mejora su rendimiento esta temporada.

It is rumored that the coach will be fired if the team doesn't improve its performance this season.

This example uses 'despedido' in a future speculative context, illustrating the ability to discuss potential outcomes and rumors.

7

Su teoría fue despedida por la comunidad científica por carecer de pruebas empíricas.

His theory was dismissed by the scientific community for lacking empirical evidence.

Another instance of 'despedido' used for an abstract concept (a theory), highlighting advanced usage in academic or intellectual discourse.

8

Después de su larga carrera, fue despedido con honores, aunque tristemente.

After his long career, he was dismissed with honors, though sadly.

This example shows 'despedido' in a slightly paradoxical context, 'dismissed with honors,' suggesting a respectful, albeit final, departure, indicating a deep understanding of contextual nuance.

Common Collocations

ser despedido to be fired
quedar despedido to be left fired (often implies unexpectedly)
fue despedido por he/she was fired for
empleado despedido fired employee
trabajador despedido fired worker
razón para ser despedido reason for being fired
derechos de un despedido rights of a fired person
salario por despido severance pay
despido improcedente unfair dismissal
carta de despido termination letter

Common Phrases

Mi amigo fue despedido ayer.

My friend was fired yesterday.

Ella está despidiendo a la gente.

She is firing people.

¿Por qué fue despedido?

Why was he fired?

No quiero ser despedido.

I don't want to be fired.

El gerente despidió a varios empleados.

The manager fired several employees.

Fue despedido por bajo rendimiento.

He was fired for poor performance.

Los trabajadores despedidos protestaron.

The fired workers protested.

Después de la reestructuración, muchos quedaron despedidos.

After the restructuring, many were left fired.

Recibió una compensación por ser despedido.

He received compensation for being fired.

Tiene miedo de ser despedido si llega tarde otra vez.

He's afraid of being fired if he's late again.

Often Confused With

despedido vs despedido

Don't confuse 'despedido' (fired/dismissed) with 'despedida' (a farewell or goodbye party) or 'despedirse' (to say goodbye).

despedido vs desempleado

'Despedido' specifically means 'fired', while 'desempleado' means 'unemployed' (which can be for reasons other than being fired).

despedido vs jubilado

'Jubilado' means 'retired', which is a planned end to employment, not being 'fired'.

Easily Confused

despedido vs embarazada

Sounds like 'embarrassed' in English.

'Embarazada' means 'pregnant', not 'embarrassed'. The Spanish word for 'embarrassed' is 'avergonzado/a'.

Mi hermana está embarazada de cinco meses. (My sister is five months pregnant.)

despedido vs sano

Sounds like 'sane' in English.

'Sano' means 'healthy'. The Spanish word for 'sane' (in the sense of mentally sound) is 'cuerdo/a'.

Es importante comer bien para mantenerse sano. (It's important to eat well to stay healthy.)

despedido vs molestar

Sounds like 'molest' in English, which has a very strong negative connotation.

'Molestar' typically means 'to bother' or 'to annoy'. While it can have a more severe meaning in some contexts, it's generally much milder than the English 'molest'.

Por favor, no me molestes cuando estoy trabajando. (Please don't bother me when I'm working.)

despedido vs realizar

Sounds like 'realize' in English.

'Realizar' means 'to carry out', 'to accomplish', or 'to perform'. The Spanish word for 'to realize' (to become aware of something) is 'darse cuenta de'.

Vamos a realizar el proyecto la próxima semana. (We are going to carry out the project next week.)

despedido vs éxito

Sounds like 'exit' in English.

'Éxito' means 'success'. The Spanish word for 'exit' (a way out) is 'salida'.

Le deseamos mucho éxito en su nuevo trabajo. (We wish him much success in his new job.)

Word Family

Nouns

despido firing, dismissal

Verbs

despedir to fire, to dismiss

How to Use It

When talking about someone being fired, you can say 'Juan fue despedido' (Juan was fired). It can also be used as an adjective, like in 'El empleado despedido buscó otro trabajo' (The fired employee looked for another job).

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is confusing 'despedido' with 'despedida'. 'Despedida' means farewell or goodbye. For example, 'Ella tuvo una despedida de soltera' (She had a bachelorette party) or 'Le di una despedida a mis amigos' (I said goodbye to my friends).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Talking about job loss

  • Fue despedido por reestructuración de la empresa.
  • He was fired due to company restructuring.
  • Ella está despedida, pero busca otro trabajo.
  • She is dismissed, but she is looking for another job.

Explaining why someone is unemployed

  • Está despedido de su antiguo puesto.
  • He is dismissed from his old position.
  • Muchos empleados fueron despedidos la semana pasada.
  • Many employees were fired last week.

Discussing negative work situations

  • No quiero ser despedido por llegar tarde.
  • I don't want to be fired for being late.
  • Se sintió despedido injustamente.
  • He felt unfairly dismissed.

Talking about a past job

  • Después de ser despedido, abrió su propio negocio.
  • After being fired, he opened his own business.
  • La razón por la que fue despedido nunca fue clara.
  • The reason he was dismissed was never clear.

Giving advice about avoiding dismissal

  • Para no ser despedido, es importante cumplir con tus tareas.
  • To avoid being fired, it's important to complete your tasks.
  • Si no quieres ser despedido, mejora tu rendimiento.
  • If you don't want to be dismissed, improve your performance.

Conversation Starters

"¿Conoces a alguien que haya sido despedido recientemente?"

"¿Crees que es fácil encontrar otro trabajo después de ser despedido?"

"¿Cuál es la mejor manera de apoyar a alguien que ha sido despedido?"

"¿Has escuchado alguna vez una historia interesante sobre alguien que fue despedido?"

"¿Qué harías si fueras despedido de tu trabajo?"

Journal Prompts

Describe un escenario en el que alguien es despedido y cómo afecta su vida.

Imagina que eres despedido. ¿Cómo te sentirías y qué harías a continuación?

Escribe sobre una situación en la que alguien evita ser despedido. ¿Cómo lo logra?

Reflexiona sobre la importancia de tener un plan de contingencia si fueras despedido.

¿Qué consejos le darías a alguien que está en riesgo de ser despedido?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

While both come from the verb 'despedir', 'despedido' (adjective) means fired or dismissed from a job. 'Despedida' (noun) means a farewell or a goodbye party. For example, 'Mi jefe me ha despedido' (My boss has fired me) vs. 'Tuvimos una despedida para Juan' (We had a farewell party for Juan).

Not really. 'Despedido' is almost exclusively used in the context of losing a job. If you want to say something was 'discarded' or 'sent away' in a different context, you would use other verbs like 'desechar' or 'enviar'.

Yes, 'despedido' is the most common and direct way to say someone was fired. It's neutral in tone. You might hear more colloquial or informal ways, but 'despedido' is standard.

The verb is 'despedir'. So, 'El jefe despidió al empleado' (The boss fired the employee). 'Despedido' is the past participle, used as an adjective or in perfect tenses.

No. If someone resigned, they quit voluntarily. The verb for that is 'renunciar'. So, 'Él renunció a su trabajo' (He resigned from his job). 'Despedido' means they were let go.

You can use it with the verb 'estar' (to be) to say someone is fired, or with 'ser' (to be) to say they were fired. For example, 'Está despedido' (He is fired) or 'Fue despedido ayer' (He was fired yesterday). You can also use it with 'haber' for perfect tenses: 'Me han despedido' (They have fired me).

Yes, as an adjective, it agrees with the gender of the person. So, 'un empleado despedido' (a fired employee - male) and 'una empleada despedida' (a fired employee - female).

A very common phrase is 'estar despedido' (to be fired). For example, 'Después del incidente, Carlos estaba despedido' (After the incident, Carlos was fired).

While 'despedido' is the most common, you might hear 'cesado' (ceased, dismissed) or 'destituido' (removed from office, dismissed), especially in more formal or official contexts. But 'despedido' is the everyday word.

It's almost exclusively used literally for jobs. While you might playfully say 'Estoy despedido de la dieta' (I'm fired from the diet), it's not common usage and would be understood as a humorous exaggeration, not a standard metaphor.

Test Yourself 90 questions

fill blank A1

Ella está muy triste porque su jefe la ha ___.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedido

The sentence indicates sadness due to a boss's action, so 'despedido' (fired) fits the context best.

fill blank A1

Mi amigo fue ___ de su trabajo ayer. Ahora busca uno nuevo.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedido

The sentence states the friend is looking for a new job, meaning he was 'despedido' (fired) from his old one.

fill blank A1

No me gusta mi trabajo, pero no quiero ser ___.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedido

The speaker dislikes their job but wants to avoid being 'despedido' (fired).

fill blank A1

El empleado fue ___ por llegar tarde todos los días.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedido

Being late every day is a reason to be 'despedido' (fired).

fill blank A1

Después de muchos errores, el gerente lo ___ de la empresa.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despidió

Many errors led the manager to 'despidió' (fire) him from the company.

fill blank A1

Si no trabajas bien, puedes ser ___.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedido

Not working well can result in being 'despedido' (fired).

multiple choice A1

Which word means 'fired'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedido

'Despedido' is the past participle of 'despedir', which means to fire or dismiss someone from a job. The other options do not relate to job termination.

multiple choice A1

If someone is 'despedido', what happened to their job?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: They lost their job.

'Despedido' means fired or dismissed, so they no longer have their job.

multiple choice A1

My friend is 'despedido'. How does he feel?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Sad

Losing a job typically makes someone feel sad, not happy or excited.

true false A1

If you are 'despedido', you still have your job.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

If you are 'despedido', it means you have been fired or dismissed, so you do not have your job anymore.

true false A1

'Despedido' is a positive word.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

'Despedido' means fired or dismissed, which is generally a negative event.

true false A1

A person who is 'despedido' no longer works for the company.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: True

Being 'despedido' means the employment relationship has ended.

listening A1

Listen to a common Spanish greeting.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Hola, ¿cómo estás?
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
listening A1

Listen to another way to say 'How are you?'

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: ¿Qué tal?
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
listening A1

Listen to someone introducing themselves.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Me llamo María.
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking A1

Read this aloud:

Hola

Focus: The 'h' is silent.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking A1

Read this aloud:

Gracias

Focus: Roll the 'r' slightly if you can.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking A1

Read this aloud:

Por favor

Focus: The 'v' sounds like a 'b'.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
fill blank A2

Mi amigo fue ___ de su trabajo ayer.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedido

The sentence means 'My friend was fired from his job yesterday.' 'Despedido' means fired.

fill blank A2

Después de la crisis, muchas personas fueron ___ de la empresa.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedidas

The sentence means 'After the crisis, many people were fired from the company.' 'Despedidas' (plural feminine) matches 'personas' and means fired.

fill blank A2

Ella está triste porque fue ___ sin razón.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedida

The sentence means 'She is sad because she was fired without reason.' 'Despedida' (feminine singular) matches 'ella' and means fired.

fill blank A2

Si no trabajas bien, puedes ser ___.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedido

The sentence means 'If you don't work well, you can be fired.' 'Despedido' (masculine singular) means fired.

fill blank A2

No quiero ser ___ de mi puesto.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedido

The sentence means 'I don't want to be fired from my position.' 'Despedido' means fired.

fill blank A2

La gerente ___ al empleado por llegar tarde siempre.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despidió

The sentence means 'The manager fired the employee for always being late.' 'Despidió' is the past tense of 'despedir' (to fire).

listening A2

What happened to my friend's job?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Mi amigo fue despedido de su trabajo.
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
listening A2

How does she feel about losing her job?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Ella no está feliz porque la despidieron.
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
listening A2

What did the manager do yesterday?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: El gerente despidió a dos empleados ayer.
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking A2

Read this aloud:

Fui despedido.

Focus: despedido

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking A2

Read this aloud:

Ella fue despedida.

Focus: despedida

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking A2

Read this aloud:

¿Te despidieron?

Focus: despidieron

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
sentence order A2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: El hombre fue despedido.

This sentence means 'The man was fired.' We need to put the words in the correct order to form a grammatically correct sentence.

sentence order A2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: La empleada está despedida.

This sentence means 'The employee is fired.' Remember that 'despedida' is feminine to match 'empleada.'

sentence order A2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Él no quiere ser despedido.

This sentence means 'He does not want to be fired.' 'Ser despedido' is the infinitive form for 'to be fired.'

fill blank B1

Fue ___ de su trabajo por llegar tarde constantemente.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedido

The context implies a negative outcome for arriving late, so 'despedido' (fired) is the correct choice.

fill blank B1

Después de la reestructuración de la empresa, varios empleados fueron ___.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedidos

Company restructuring often leads to job losses, making 'despedidos' (dismissed) the appropriate word.

fill blank B1

Se sintió muy triste al ser ___ sin previo aviso.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedido

Feeling sad about sudden job termination aligns with being 'despedido' (fired/dismissed).

fill blank B1

La gerencia decidió que el trabajador sería ___ por mal comportamiento.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedido

Bad behavior typically results in job termination, so 'despedido' is the correct fit.

fill blank B1

Aunque era un buen empleado, fue ___ debido a la crisis económica.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedido

Economic crises often lead to layoffs, making 'despedido' (dismissed) the most logical choice.

fill blank B1

El gerente tuvo que anunciar que tres personas serían ___ el viernes.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: despedidas

Managers announce job terminations, so 'despedidas' (fired/dismissed) is the correct verb here.

multiple choice B1

Choose the best translation for 'despedido'.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Fired

The word 'despedido' specifically refers to being fired or dismissed from a job.

multiple choice B1

Which sentence correctly uses 'despedido'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Ella fue despedida de su trabajo. (She was fired from her job.)

'Despedido' is used when someone loses their job.

multiple choice B1

What is the opposite of 'ser despedido'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Ser contratado (To be hired)

If someone is not 'despedido' (fired), they might be 'contratado' (hired).

true false B1

If someone is 'despedido', they have lost their job.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: True

'Despedido' directly means that a person has been terminated from their employment.

true false B1

You use 'despedido' when someone has been promoted at work.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

'Despedido' means fired, not promoted. The word for promoted is 'promovido'.

true false B1

The sentence 'Mi amigo fue despedido por llegar tarde.' means 'My friend was fired for being late.'

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: True

This is a correct usage of 'despedido' in context.

writing B1

Imagine you had a friend who was recently fired. Write a short message to them expressing your sympathy and offering support. Use the word 'despedido'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

Hola [Nombre del amigo], supe que fuiste despedido. Lo siento mucho, pero no te desanimes. Sé que eres muy talentoso y encontrarás algo pronto. Avísame si necesitas algo, estoy aquí para ayudarte.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
writing B1

Describe a hypothetical situation where someone might be 'despedido' from their job. Include a reason for their dismissal.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

Un empleado fue despedido de su trabajo porque llegaba tarde constantemente y no cumplía con sus tareas. La empresa le dio varias advertencias, pero él no cambió su comportamiento.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
writing B1

Write a sentence in Spanish using 'despedido' to describe someone who was let go from their position due to economic reasons.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

Mi vecino fue despedido de su empleo debido a las razones económicas por las que atravesaba la empresa el año pasado.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
reading B1

¿Por qué estaba triste María?

Read this passage:

María estaba muy triste. Ayer fue despedido de su trabajo en la fábrica. Había trabajado allí por diez años y no esperaba que esto sucediera. Ahora tiene que buscar un nuevo empleo.

¿Por qué estaba triste María?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Porque la despidieron de su trabajo.

La primera frase dice que María estaba triste porque fue despedido de su trabajo, lo cual significa que la despidieron.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Porque la despidieron de su trabajo.

La primera frase dice que María estaba triste porque fue despedido de su trabajo, lo cual significa que la despidieron.

reading B1

¿Por qué tuvieron que ser despedidas algunas personas?

Read this passage:

El gerente tuvo que tomar una decisión difícil. La compañía no estaba generando suficientes ganancias y, para reducir costos, algunas personas tendrían que ser despedidas. Fue un momento triste para todos en la oficina.

¿Por qué tuvieron que ser despedidas algunas personas?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Para reducir los costos de la compañía.

El pasaje indica claramente que las personas fueron despedidas 'para reducir costos', debido a que la compañía no estaba generando suficientes ganancias.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Para reducir los costos de la compañía.

El pasaje indica claramente que las personas fueron despedidas 'para reducir costos', debido a que la compañía no estaba generando suficientes ganancias.

reading B1

¿Qué hizo Juan después de ser despedido?

Read this passage:

Después de ser despedido, Juan decidió tomar un curso de programación. Quería mejorar sus habilidades y encontrar un trabajo mejor. Estaba decidido a convertir esta situación negativa en una oportunidad para crecer.

¿Qué hizo Juan después de ser despedido?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Tomó un curso para mejorar sus habilidades.

El texto dice que Juan 'decidió tomar un curso de programación' después de ser despedido para 'mejorar sus habilidades y encontrar un trabajo mejor'.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Tomó un curso para mejorar sus habilidades.

El texto dice que Juan 'decidió tomar un curso de programación' después de ser despedido para 'mejorar sus habilidades y encontrar un trabajo mejor'.

sentence order B1

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: El trabajador despedido estaba triste

This sentence means 'The fired worker was sad.' 'El' is the definite article for masculine singular nouns, followed by 'trabajador' (worker). 'Despedido' (fired) is an adjective describing the worker, and 'estaba triste' means 'was sad'.

sentence order B1

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Ella fue despedida por llegar tarde

This sentence means 'She was fired for being late.' 'Ella' is the pronoun 'she', followed by 'fue despedida' (was fired). 'Por llegar tarde' means 'for being late'.

sentence order B1

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Ellos están despedidos después del incidente

This sentence means 'They are fired after the incident.' 'Ellos' is the pronoun 'they', followed by 'están despedidos' (are fired). 'Después del incidente' means 'after the incident'.

multiple choice B2

Choose the best synonym for 'despedido' in the context of a job.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Despedido (Fired)

'Despedido' specifically refers to being let go from a job, making it the most direct synonym.

multiple choice B2

Which of these sentences correctly uses 'despedido'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: El empleado fue despedido por llegar tarde.

'Despedido' is used as an adjective here to describe the employee who was fired. The other options use the word incorrectly.

multiple choice B2

What is the opposite of being 'despedido' from a job?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Contratado (Hired)

To be 'despedido' means to be fired. The opposite is to be 'contratado', meaning hired.

true false B2

If someone is 'despedido', it means they voluntarily left their job.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

No, 'despedido' means someone was fired or dismissed, not that they chose to leave.

true false B2

You can use 'despedido' to describe an object that has been discarded.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

'Despedido' is specifically used for people being dismissed from a job. You would use different vocabulary for discarded objects.

true false B2

The phrase 'estar despedido' means 'to be fired'.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: True

Yes, 'estar despedido' is the correct way to say 'to be fired' when referring to someone's employment status.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: El empleado fue despedido por llegar tarde constantemente.

This sentence structure is common when stating the reason someone was fired. 'El empleado' (The employee) is followed by 'fue despedido' (was fired), and then 'por' (for) introduces the reason.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Después de la reestructuración de la empresa, muchos trabajadores fueron despedidos.

This sentence explains a common scenario for layoffs. 'Después de la reestructuración' (After the restructuring) sets the context, followed by 'muchos trabajadores fueron despedidos' (many workers were fired).

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Ella se sintió muy mal después de haber sido despedida sin razón.

This sentence describes a personal reaction to being fired. 'Ella se sintió muy mal' (She felt very bad) is followed by 'después de haber sido despedida' (after having been fired) and 'sin razón' (without reason).

multiple choice C1

Choose the most appropriate synonym for 'despedido' in the context of a job.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Desempleado

'Despedido' specifically means to be let go from a job, making 'desempleado' (unemployed) the closest synonym that reflects the state of being without a job due to being fired.

multiple choice C1

Which of the following situations would typically lead to someone being described as 'despedido'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Being terminated due to company restructuring or poor performance.

'Despedido' refers to an involuntary separation from employment, often due to reasons such as poor performance, misconduct, or company layoffs.

multiple choice C1

If a person is 'despedido' from their job, what is the most immediate consequence they would likely face?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Loss of income and potential job search.

Being 'despedido' means losing one's job, which directly results in a loss of income and the necessity to seek new employment.

true false C1

A person who is 'despedido' from their job has chosen to leave voluntarily.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

'Despedido' implies being fired or dismissed, which is an involuntary action, unlike resigning or quitting voluntarily.

true false C1

If someone is 'despedido' for gross misconduct, it suggests a serious breach of company rules.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: True

When 'despedido' is used in conjunction with 'gross misconduct,' it indicates that the dismissal was due to severe inappropriate behavior or violations of company policy.

true false C1

Being 'despedido' can sometimes be a result of economic downturns affecting a company.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: True

Companies often dismiss employees ('despedir') due to economic difficulties, restructuring, or layoffs, which are not necessarily related to an individual's performance.

listening C1

Listen for who was let go and why.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Después de la reestructuración de la empresa, varios empleados fueron despedidos sin previo aviso, lo que generó un ambiente de incertidumbre.
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
listening C1

Pay attention to the reason for the dismissal.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Se rumorea que el gerente fue despedido por malversación de fondos, aunque la empresa aún no ha emitido un comunicado oficial al respecto.
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
listening C1

Note the employee's reaction to being fired.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Aunque fue despedido injustamente, decidió no emprender acciones legales, buscando nuevas oportunidades laborales de inmediato.
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking C1

Read this aloud:

A pesar de su antigüedad, fue despedido por recorte de personal, lo que generó un gran debate en la oficina.

Focus: des-pe-DI-do

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking C1

Read this aloud:

¿Crees que fue despedido por motivos válidos o fue una decisión arbitraria de la dirección?

Focus: ar-bi-TRA-ria

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking C1

Read this aloud:

Si fueras despedido, ¿cuáles serían tus primeros pasos para buscar un nuevo empleo?

Focus: em-PLE-o

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
writing C1

Imagine you are an HR manager. Write a short email (3-4 sentences) to an employee informing them that their position has been eliminated and they are being 'despedido'. Be direct but professional. Do not use 'despedido' in the email itself, but imply it clearly. Focus on clarity and tone.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

Estimado/a [Nombre del Empleado], Lamentamos informarle que su puesto será eliminado a partir de [Fecha]. Esta decisión ha sido difícil y se basa en la reestructuración de la empresa. Agradecemos su contribución y le deseamos lo mejor en sus futuros emprendimientos.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
writing C1

Write a 3-sentence diary entry from the perspective of someone who was 'despedido' unexpectedly. Describe their immediate feelings and thoughts about what happened. Use descriptive language.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

Hoy fue un día que nunca olvidaré. Me quedé completamente en shock cuando me dijeron que estaba despedido, sin previo aviso. Siento una mezcla de rabia y miedo por lo que vendrá ahora.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
writing C1

You are a journalist reporting on a company that has recently 'despedido' a significant portion of its workforce. Write a headline and a brief (2-3 sentence) news report summarizing the situation. Focus on concise, informative language.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

Grandes Recortes en [Nombre de la Empresa]: Cientos de Empleados Despedidos [Nombre de la Empresa] anunció hoy el despido de 200 empleados como parte de una estrategia de reestructuración. La medida ha generado incertidumbre entre los trabajadores restantes y críticas por parte de los sindicatos.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
reading C1

¿Qué causó el despido del gerente?

Read this passage:

El gerente de la sucursal fue despedido después de que se descubriera un fraude financiero. La noticia sorprendió a todos los empleados, ya que siempre había sido una figura respetada en la empresa. La dirección ha iniciado una investigación exhaustiva para determinar el alcance total del problema.

¿Qué causó el despido del gerente?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Un fraude financiero.

El pasaje indica claramente que 'El gerente de la sucursal fue despedido después de que se descubriera un fraude financiero.'

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Un fraude financiero.

El pasaje indica claramente que 'El gerente de la sucursal fue despedido después de que se descubriera un fraude financiero.'

reading C1

¿Por qué fue despedido el empleado?

Read this passage:

Tras varios meses de bajo rendimiento y advertencias, el empleado finalmente fue despedido de su puesto. Aunque la decisión no fue fácil para la gerencia, se consideró necesaria para la productividad del equipo. La empresa ya está buscando un reemplazo calificado.

¿Por qué fue despedido el empleado?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Por bajo rendimiento y advertencias previas.

El texto menciona que 'Tras varios meses de bajo rendimiento y advertencias, el empleado finalmente fue despedido'.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Por bajo rendimiento y advertencias previas.

El texto menciona que 'Tras varios meses de bajo rendimiento y advertencias, el empleado finalmente fue despedido'.

reading C1

¿Cuál es la causa principal de los despidos mencionados en el pasaje?

Read this passage:

El aumento de la automatización en la fábrica ha llevado a que muchos trabajadores sean despedidos. Esta situación ha generado un debate sobre el futuro del empleo en la región y la necesidad de programas de reconversión laboral. Los sindicatos están negociando con la empresa para buscar soluciones alternativas.

¿Cuál es la causa principal de los despidos mencionados en el pasaje?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: El aumento de la automatización.

El pasaje dice que 'El aumento de la automatización en la fábrica ha llevado a que muchos trabajadores sean despedidos.'

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: El aumento de la automatización.

El pasaje dice que 'El aumento de la automatización en la fábrica ha llevado a que muchos trabajadores sean despedidos.'

/ 90 correct

Perfect score!

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