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B1 verb #4,000 most common 15 min read

despegar

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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips despegar in 30 Seconds

Explanation despegar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'despegar' primarily in the context of travel and airplanes. It is a regular '-ar' verb, so it follows the same pattern as 'hablar' or 'cantar.' You will mostly use it in the present tense to talk about flight schedules. For example: 'El avión despega a las diez.' It is helpful to learn it alongside its opposite, 'aterrizar' (to land). Think of 'despegar' as 'leaving the ground' and 'aterrizar' as 'touching the ground.' At this stage, don't worry too much about metaphorical meanings; focus on the literal plane taking off. You might also see it in simple instructions like 'despegar aquí' (peel here) on a package, which helps you understand the concept of unsticking something. Remember that the stress is on the last syllable in the infinitive: des-pe-GAR. Practice saying 'El avión va a despegar' to get used to the sound of the word in a sentence. It's a very useful word for any traveler to know when checking flight boards at a Spanish-speaking airport. Keep it simple: planes despegar, and stickers despegar.

At the A2 level, you can expand your use of 'despegar' to include the physical act of removing stickers, labels, or tape. You will start using it in the past tense (pretérito indefinido) to describe things that happened: 'Ayer despegué la vieja etiqueta de mi maleta.' You should also become familiar with the reflexive form 'despegarse.' This is used when something comes off by itself. For example, 'La suela de mi zapato se despegó' (The sole of my shoe came unglued). This 'se' is important because it shows the action happened without you doing it intentionally. You might also use it to talk about people in a very basic way, like 'no me despego de mi perro' (I don't leave my dog's side). You are starting to see how the word moves from just planes to more everyday physical objects. Focus on the difference between 'Yo despego la pegatina' (I peel the sticker) and 'La pegatina se despega' (The sticker is coming off). This distinction will help you build a stronger grammatical foundation as you progress toward intermediate levels.

At the B1 level, you are expected to use 'despegar' in its metaphorical sense. This is a very common way to describe success in business, careers, or projects. For example, 'Su carrera como cantante despegó el año pasado' (Her career as a singer took off last year). You should also be comfortable using it in various tenses, including the subjunctive. For instance, 'Espero que nuestro negocio despegue pronto' (I hope our business takes off soon). You will also encounter common idiomatic expressions like 'no despegar los labios' (to not say a word) or 'no despegar ojo' (to not sleep). These are essential for sounding more natural. At this level, you should understand that 'despegar' is not just about physical separation but about the *moment* of transition from being stuck or grounded to being free and moving upward. You can also use it to describe sports, where a team 'se despega' from its rivals in the standings. Practice using the word in professional contexts to describe growth and in personal contexts to describe being very attached to someone or something using the negative reflexive: 'No se despega de su móvil' (He can't put his phone down).

At the B2 level, your use of 'despegar' should be nuanced and precise. You should understand the subtle differences between 'despegar' and its synonyms like 'desprender' or 'arrancar.' You should be able to use the word in complex sentence structures, such as 'Si no hubiéramos invertido en publicidad, la marca nunca habría despegado.' You will also encounter the word in more technical or formal writing, such as economic reports or technical manuals. For example, 'El sector turístico ha logrado despegarse de la tendencia negativa de los últimos meses.' Here, 'despegarse' means to break away from or distance itself from a trend. You should also be aware of the noun form 'despegue' and use it correctly in phrases like 'pista de despegue' (runway) or 'el despegue económico.' Your ability to switch between the literal aviation sense, the physical unsticking sense, and the metaphorical success sense should be seamless. Pay attention to how the word is used in literature or journalism to create a sense of momentum or liberation. Using 'despegar' effectively at this level shows that you have moved beyond basic vocabulary and can handle the idiomatic and stylistic layers of the Spanish language.

At the C1 level, you should have a sophisticated command of 'despegar' and be able to use it to express abstract concepts. You might use it in social or psychological contexts to describe the process of becoming independent or emotionally detached. For example, 'Le costó años despegarse de la influencia de sus padres para encontrar su propia voz.' Here, the word conveys a deep sense of personal growth and liberation. You should also be able to use it in highly formal or academic contexts, such as discussing the 'despegue' of a social movement or a scientific theory. You will recognize the word in advanced literature where it might be used to describe the soul 'despegándose' from the body or a character 'despegando' from reality. Your understanding of the word's etymology (from 'pegar' - to stick) will help you appreciate its versatility across different registers. You should be able to play with the word in creative writing, using it as a metaphor for any kind of significant departure or breakthrough. At this level, 'despegar' is no longer just a verb; it's a tool for describing the dynamics of change, separation, and ascent in any field of human endeavor.

At the C2 level, you possess a near-native intuition for 'despegar.' You can use it with total precision, capturing the finest shades of meaning. You might use it in a philosophical discussion about the human condition, perhaps talking about the difficulty of 'despegarse' from one's own ego or cultural biases. You are familiar with rare or archaic uses and can appreciate how the word functions in complex poetry or legal documents where 'despegar' might refer to the formal separation of entities. You can use the word with irony or humor, for example, describing a very slow person as 'alguien que no despega ni con un cohete.' Your mastery includes a complete understanding of all its collocations and the ability to coin new metaphorical uses that sound natural to native speakers. You understand the phonetic nuances and how the word's rhythm fits into a well-crafted sentence. In professional settings, you can use 'despegar' to lead discussions on market strategy, using it to describe not just growth, but the specific 'escape velocity' needed for a project to become self-sustaining. At this level, 'despegar' is a fully integrated part of your expressive toolkit, used effortlessly to describe everything from the physical world to the most abstract realms of thought.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

despegar in 30 Seconds

Despegar primarily means 'to take off' for aircraft leaving the ground.
It also means 'to unstick' or 'to peel off' something attached with glue.
Metaphorically, it describes a career or business that starts to succeed rapidly.
The reflexive form 'despegarse' means to become detached or to distance oneself.

The Spanish verb despegar is a versatile and essential word that every intermediate learner must master. At its core, the word is most famously associated with the world of aviation. When an airplane leaves the runway and begins its journey into the sky, it is said to despegar. This literal meaning is the foundation for many of its other uses. However, the word is not limited to things with wings; it is deeply rooted in the physical action of separating two things that were previously joined together, usually by an adhesive or some form of physical bond. Imagine trying to remove a sticker from a laptop or a stamp from an envelope; that physical act of unsticking is also despegar. Beyond the physical, the word takes on a powerful metaphorical life in the realms of business, careers, and personal projects. When a startup suddenly finds success or a person's career finally starts moving upward after a period of stagnation, we say that the project or career is 'taking off.' This mirrors the English idiom exactly, making it intuitive for English speakers. Understanding despegar requires recognizing these three distinct layers: the mechanical (aviation), the physical (detaching), and the metaphorical (success). Whether you are at an airport, working on a craft project, or discussing the latest economic trends in a boardroom, this verb will be your constant companion.

Aviation Context: Used to describe the moment an aircraft becomes airborne. It is the opposite of 'aterrizar' (to land). Example: El vuelo despegará con retraso debido a la tormenta.

Es emocionante ver cómo los aviones logran despegar con tanta fuerza y elegancia.

In everyday household life, you will encounter despegar when dealing with anything sticky. If you are painting a room and need to remove the masking tape from the edges, you are 'despegando la cinta.' If a child puts a sticker on the wall and you have to remove it, you use this verb. It is important to note the reflexive form, despegarse, which is used when something becomes detached on its own or when a person becomes emotionally detached from someone or something. For instance, if a label starts to peel off a bottle because of the humidity, you would say 'la etiqueta se está despegando.' This nuance between the active action of peeling something off and the passive state of something coming loose is a key distinction in B1 level Spanish. Furthermore, in the world of sports or competition, despegarse can mean to create a gap or a lead over opponents. If a cyclist in the Tour de France accelerates and leaves the pack behind, he is 'despegándose' from the group. This diversity makes the word incredibly rich and applicable to a wide range of human experiences, from the mundane task of opening a glued envelope to the grand achievement of a space shuttle launch or a multimillion-dollar business venture.

Physical Separation: The act of unsticking or detaching one surface from another. Example: Tienes que despegar el papel protector antes de usar el pegamento.

No pude despegar los ojos de la pantalla durante toda la película.

Finally, the metaphorical 'taking off' is perhaps the most common way you will hear this word in news and business contexts. When economists talk about an emerging market, they often use despegar to describe its rapid growth phase. Similarly, in the music industry, an artist might spend years playing in small bars before their career finally 'despega' with a hit single. This transition from preparation to visible, rapid progress is the essence of the word's metaphorical power. It conveys a sense of breaking free from the 'gravity' of obscurity or failure. It is a word full of hope and momentum. Whether it is a physical plane, a sticky note, or a promising career, despegar captures that pivotal moment of separation and ascent. It is a verb that moves from the ground to the sky, from the surface to the air, and from potential to reality. Mastering its use will allow you to describe both the technical details of a flight and the emotional highs of a successful life achievement with precision and flair.

Metaphorical Success: When a project, career, or economy starts to show rapid progress or success. Example: Su carrera como actriz empezó a despegar después de ganar el premio.

La nueva aplicación móvil ha logrado despegar en el mercado internacional.

El niño no se quería despegar de su madre en el primer día de clase.

Using despegar correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical patterns and the specific contexts in which it appears. As a regular '-ar' verb, its conjugation is straightforward, but its meaning shifts depending on whether it is used transitively (with an object), intransitively (without an object), or reflexively. In the context of aviation, it is almost always intransitive. You say 'El avión despega' (The plane takes off). You do not usually 'take off' the plane as an object in Spanish; rather, the plane performs the action itself. If you want to specify the location, you use the preposition 'de' (from). For example, 'El vuelo despega de Madrid' (The flight takes off from Madrid). This is a common point of confusion for learners who might try to use other prepositions. Remember: planes take off *from* a place.

Intransitive (Aviation): Subject + despegar. Example: Los helicópteros no pueden despegar si hay mucha niebla.

¿A qué hora tiene previsto despegar nuestro avión?

When dealing with the physical act of unsticking something, despegar is used transitively. This means it requires a direct object—the thing you are unsticking. The structure is 'despegar + [objeto].' For example, 'Voy a despegar la etiqueta del frasco' (I am going to unstick the label from the jar). Here, the preposition 'de' is again used to show what the object is being removed from. If you are removing a poster from the wall, you 'despegas el póster de la pared.' It is also common to see this in a figurative sense with body parts. 'No despegar los labios' means to keep one's mouth shut (literally 'not to unstick the lips'), and 'no despegar ojo' means not to sleep a wink (literally 'not to unstick an eye'). These idiomatic uses follow the transitive pattern even though they are metaphorical.

Transitive (Unsticking): Subject + despegar + Object. Example: Despegué el chicle de mi zapato con un cuchillo.

Es muy difícil despegar estas fotos antiguas sin romperlas.

The reflexive form despegarse is particularly interesting. It is used when something detaches itself or when someone wants to distance themselves from a person or a situation. 'La suela de mi zapato se ha despegado' (The sole of my shoe has come unglued). In a social context, if you say 'No puedo despegarme de mi trabajo,' it implies you are so busy or involved that you cannot get away from it. Similarly, 'El niño se despegó de su padre para correr hacia el parque' describes a physical separation initiated by the child. Notice how the reflexive 'se' changes the focus from the act of pulling something off to the state of separation itself. This is a subtle but vital distinction for achieving fluency at the B1 and B2 levels.

Reflexive (Self-detaching/Social distance): Subject + se + despegar. Example: Con el calor, el papel pintado se está despegando de la pared.

A veces es necesario despegarse un poco de la tecnología para descansar.

El corredor logró despegarse del grupo en los últimos metros.

The most common place you will hear despegar is, without a doubt, an airport. From the overhead announcements to the conversations between passengers, the word 'despegue' (the noun form, 'takeoff') and the verb 'despegar' are constant. If you are waiting for a flight, you might hear: 'Señores pasajeros, el avión está listo para despegar' (Ladies and gentlemen, the plane is ready to take off). Pilots use it in their communications with air traffic control, and ground crew use it to coordinate schedules. It is a word that carries a sense of beginning, of movement, and sometimes of anxiety for those who are afraid of flying. In this context, it is technical yet universally understood by everyone traveling.

At the Airport: Frequent in announcements and flight status updates. Example: Estamos esperando la autorización de la torre de control para despegar.

El despegue fue tan suave que ni siquiera me di cuenta de que ya estábamos en el aire.

Moving away from travel, you will hear despegar frequently in the world of business and entrepreneurship. Spanish-speaking business news programs (like those on RTVE or CNN en Español) use the word to describe the success of startups or the recovery of an economy. You might hear a commentator say: 'La economía del país finalmente empieza a despegar tras la crisis' (The country's economy is finally starting to take off after the crisis). In a more personal professional setting, a mentor might tell a young professional: 'Tu carrera va a despegar en cuanto termines este proyecto' (Your career is going to take off as soon as you finish this project). Here, the word is synonymous with 'éxito' (success) and 'progreso' (progress), but it adds a dynamic, energetic quality that these nouns lack.

In Business News: Used to describe rapid growth or market success. Example: Las acciones de la empresa despegaron un 20% esta mañana.

Necesitamos una buena estrategia de marketing para que el producto despegue definitivamente.

In a domestic or artistic setting, despegar is common among hobbyists, parents, and workers. If you are watching a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) video in Spanish, the presenter will surely say something like 'ahora vamos a despegar el exceso de papel' (now we are going to peel off the excess paper). In children's contexts, it’s about stickers, glue, or being too clingy to a parent. If a child is very shy, a teacher might say: 'Le cuesta despegarse de su madre al llegar a la escuela' (He finds it hard to detach himself from his mother when arriving at school). This usage is more emotional and physical, showing how the word bridges the gap between technical flight and human connection. Whether in a formal news report or a casual conversation about home repairs, despegar is a high-frequency verb that describes the moment of separation, whether that separation leads to a flight, a clean surface, or a new life chapter.

Everyday Situations: Common in DIY, childcare, and casual talk. Example: No puedo despegar este chicle del pantalón.

Usa un secador de pelo para despegar la pegatina sin dejar rastro.

Desde que se compró ese videojuego, no se despega del televisor.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with despegar is confusing it with other verbs related to 'taking off' clothes or 'taking off' in terms of removal. In English, we use 'take off' for an airplane, for a sweater, and for removing a lid. In Spanish, these are all different verbs. To take off clothes is quitarse (e.g., 'me quito la chaqueta'). Using despegar for clothes would sound like your clothes are glued to your skin! Similarly, to 'take off' a lid or a cap is usually quitar or abrir. Despegar specifically implies that something was stuck with an adhesive or is physically lifting off a surface to fly. If you say 'voy a despegar mi sombrero,' a Spaniard might imagine you are ungluing your hat from your head.

Confusion with 'Quitar': Mistake: Despegar la ropa. Correct: Quitarse la ropa. 'Despegar' is only for things that are stuck or for aircraft.

¡No digas que vas a despegar tu abrigo! Di: 'Me voy a quitar el abrigo'.

Another common error involves the misuse of prepositions. As mentioned earlier, despegar (aviation) uses 'de' to indicate the point of departure. Learners sometimes try to use 'desde' or 'a' incorrectly. While 'desde' is grammatically possible, 'de' is the standard choice for simple departure. Furthermore, when using the reflexive despegarse to mean 'becoming detached,' learners often forget the 'se.' If you say 'la etiqueta despegó,' it sounds like the label took a flight like an airplane. If you mean the label fell off the bottle, you must say 'la etiqueta se despegó.' The 'se' indicates that the action happened to the subject itself or was spontaneous. This distinction between the transitive action (you doing it) and the reflexive/intransitive state (it happening) is a hallmark of advanced Spanish grammar.

Forgetting the Reflexive 'Se': Mistake: El papel despegó de la pared. Correct: El papel se despegó de la pared. Use 'se' for spontaneous detaching.

Mira, el adhesivo se está despegando por la humedad.

Lastly, learners sometimes confuse despegar with despertar (to wake up) because they sound somewhat similar to a beginner's ear. While this is less common at the B1 level, it still happens in fast speech. Another confusion is with arrancar. While arrancar can mean to start a car or to pull something out by the roots, despegar is specifically about surfaces. If you pull a page out of a notebook, you 'arrancas' the page (it involves force and tearing). If you peel a sticker off carefully, you 'despegas' it. Using arrancar implies a level of violence or suddenness that despegar does not. Understanding these subtle differences in physical action—tearing vs. unsticking—will make your Spanish sound much more natural and precise to native speakers.

Despegar vs. Arrancar: 'Despegar' is for unsticking; 'arrancar' is for pulling out or starting a motor. Example: Despegué el sello, no lo arranqué.

Ten cuidado al despegar el celo para no romper el papel.

El avión no pudo despegar porque el motor no arrancaba.

To truly master despegar, it is helpful to look at its synonyms and related terms, as they help define its boundaries. In the context of aviation, the most direct synonym is elevarse (to rise/lift off), though elevarse is more poetic and less technical. Another related term is partir (to depart), which is broader and can apply to trains, buses, or ships. However, despegar is unique because it specifically describes the transition from the ground to the air. If you want to sound more formal in a technical report, you might use iniciar el vuelo (to initiate the flight), but in 99% of cases, despegar is the preferred choice for its clarity and specificity.

Despegar vs. Elevarse: 'Despegar' is the specific action of leaving the ground. 'Elevarse' is the general action of going higher into the air.

El globo aerostático comenzó a elevarse lentamente, pero el avión debe despegar rápido.

When it comes to the physical action of unsticking things, desprender is a very close synonym. Desprender often sounds a bit more formal or scientific. You might see it on a warning label: 'puede desprender gases' (it may release/emit gases) or 'desprender la parte superior' (detach the upper part). In everyday speech, despegar is much more common. Another alternative is separar (to separate), which is the most general term. While despegar specifically implies overcoming an adhesive bond, separar can mean moving any two things apart. If you are separating two pieces of LEGO, you use separar; if you are peeling a sticker off a LEGO, you use despegar.

Despegar vs. Desprender: 'Despegar' is common and implies glue/adhesion. 'Desprender' is more formal and can imply a natural falling off or release.

Es difícil desprender el aroma de estas flores de mi memoria.

Finally, in the metaphorical sense of 'taking off' in business, you can use prosperar (to prosper), triunfar (to triumph), or tener éxito (to have success). However, despegar is specifically used for the initial phase of rapid growth. While prosperar describes a long-term state of doing well, despegar describes the exciting moment when things finally start moving fast. For example, 'su negocio está prosperando' means it's doing well overall, but 'su negocio acaba de despegar' means it has just hit its stride and is growing rapidly. This distinction is subtle but important for expressing the speed and timing of success. Using despegar gives your Spanish a more dynamic, modern feel, especially in professional environments.

Despegar vs. Prosperar: 'Despegar' emphasizes the start of rapid success. 'Prosperar' emphasizes the continuous state of being successful.

Después de años de esfuerzo, su canal de YouTube finalmente logró despegar.

El pegamento es tan fuerte que no hay forma de despegar las piezas.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

While 'pegar' can mean 'to hit' in Spanish, 'despegar' never means 'to stop hitting.' It only focuses on the 'sticking' aspect of the root word.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /des.pe.'ɣaɾ/

US /des.pe.'ɡar/

The stress is on the last syllable: des-pe-GAR.

Rhymes With

llegar jugar cantar hablar mar lugar altar azar

Common Errors

Stressing the second syllable (des-PE-gar) instead of the last.
Pronouncing the 'g' like an English 'j' (it should be a hard or soft 'g').
Using an English 'r' at the end instead of a Spanish tap.
Pronouncing the 'e' like the 'ay' in 'say' (it should be shorter, like 'met').
Aspirating the 'p' (releasing a puff of air), which Spanish 'p' does not have.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in context, especially in airports or news.

Writing 3/5

Requires remembering the reflexive 'se' for certain contexts.

Speaking 3/5

Simple conjugation, but idioms need practice to sound natural.

Listening 2/5

Clearly pronounced, though can be confused with 'despertar' by beginners.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

pegar avión vuelo aeropuerto quitar

Learn Next

aterrizar volar éxito desprender adhesivo

Advanced

aeronavegabilidad sustentación desapego proliferar

Grammar to Know

Regular -ar verb conjugation

Yo despego, tú despegas, él despega...

Reflexive pronouns with verbs

La etiqueta *se* despegó (spontaneous).

Preposition 'de' for origin

Despegar *de* Madrid.

Subjunctive for hope/desire

Espero que el avión *despegue* pronto.

Infinitive after prepositions

Antes de *despegar*, revisa los motores.

Examples by Level

El avión va a despegar ahora.

The plane is going to take off now.

Present tense with 'ir a + infinitive'.

El vuelo despega a las ocho.

The flight takes off at eight.

Present indicative used for scheduled future events.

Tengo que despegar esta etiqueta.

I have to peel off this label.

Transitive use with a direct object.

¿Cuándo despega tu avión?

When does your plane take off?

Interrogative sentence in the present tense.

El avión despega muy rápido.

The plane takes off very fast.

Adverb 'rápido' modifying the verb.

Me gusta ver los aviones despegar.

I like to watch the planes take off.

Infinitive used after the verb 'gustar'.

El piloto dice que vamos a despegar.

The pilot says we are going to take off.

Indirect speech with 'dice que'.

No puedo despegar este papel.

I cannot unstick this paper.

Negative form with the modal verb 'poder'.

Ayer el avión despegó con retraso.

Yesterday the plane took off late.

Pretérito indefinido (past simple).

La pegatina se despegó de la pared.

The sticker came off the wall.

Reflexive 'se' for spontaneous action.

Despegué el sello del sobre con cuidado.

I peeled the stamp off the envelope carefully.

Pretérito indefinido, first person singular.

Mi hermano no se despega de la tele.

My brother doesn't leave the TV.

Reflexive 'se' used figuratively for attachment.

El adhesivo se está despegando por el calor.

The adhesive is coming off because of the heat.

Present continuous (estar + gerundio).

¿Lograste despegar las fotos del álbum?

Did you manage to unstick the photos from the album?

Pretérito indefinido with the verb 'lograr'.

El avión no pudo despegar por la nieve.

The plane couldn't take off because of the snow.

Negative past tense with a cause (por + noun).

Tienes que despegar el plástico protector.

You have to peel off the protective plastic.

Obligation with 'tener que + infinitive'.

Su nuevo negocio finalmente ha empezado a despegar.

His new business has finally started to take off.

Present perfect tense (pretérito perfecto).

No despegué el ojo en toda la noche por los nervios.

I didn't sleep a wink all night because of the nerves.

Idiomatic expression 'no despegar el ojo'.

Espero que el avión despegue a tiempo.

I hope the plane takes off on time.

Present subjunctive after 'esperar que'.

La carrera de la actriz despegó tras su última película.

The actress's career took off after her last movie.

Metaphorical use in the past tense.

El ciclista se despegó del pelotón en la subida.

The cyclist broke away from the pack on the climb.

Reflexive 'se' meaning to gain distance/lead.

No despegó los labios durante toda la reunión.

He didn't open his mouth during the whole meeting.

Idiomatic expression 'no despegar los labios'.

Si el producto es bueno, las ventas despegarán pronto.

If the product is good, sales will take off soon.

Future tense (futuro simple).

Me cuesta despegarme de mis libros cuando empiezo a leer.

I find it hard to tear myself away from my books when I start reading.

Reflexive 'despegarse' used for emotional/mental focus.

La empresa necesita una inversión para despegar internacionalmente.

The company needs an investment to take off internationally.

Infinitive used for purpose (para + infinitive).

El adhesivo se despegó debido a la humedad del ambiente.

The adhesive came off due to the humidity in the environment.

Reflexive use with a formal cause ('debido a').

Dudo que la economía despegue este trimestre.

I doubt the economy will take off this quarter.

Present subjunctive after a verb of doubt ('dudar que').

Al despegar el papel pintado, descubrimos una pared de ladrillo.

Upon peeling off the wallpaper, we discovered a brick wall.

Gerund-like use of 'Al + infinitive' (Upon doing...).

El líder de la carrera se ha despegado diez segundos del resto.

The race leader has pulled ten seconds ahead of the rest.

Present perfect with reflexive 'se' in a sports context.

No logré despegarme de la tristeza tras la noticia.

I couldn't shake off the sadness after the news.

Reflexive 'despegarse' used for emotional states.

El avión despegó a pesar de las fuertes rachas de viento.

The plane took off despite the strong gusts of wind.

Concessive phrase 'a pesar de'.

Es fundamental que el proyecto despegue con buen pie.

It is fundamental that the project takes off on the right foot.

Present subjunctive after 'es fundamental que'.

La industria aeroespacial está a punto de despegar en esta región.

The aerospace industry is about to take off in this region.

Periphrasis 'estar a punto de + infinitive'.

Aquel autor tardó décadas en despegar y ser reconocido.

That author took decades to take off and be recognized.

Verb 'tardar' used with time and purpose.

Resulta imposible despegar la realidad de la ficción en su relato.

It turns out impossible to separate reality from fiction in his story.

Impersonal 'resulta' with infinitive.

El despegue de la inteligencia artificial ha cambiado el mercado laboral.

The takeoff of artificial intelligence has changed the job market.

Noun form 'despegue' used as a subject.

Se despegó de sus prejuicios para poder entender la situación.

He shed his prejudices in order to understand the situation.

Reflexive used for abstract/mental separation.

La sonda espacial despegó rumbo a Marte el pasado lunes.

The space probe took off bound for Mars last Monday.

Pretérito indefinido with direction ('rumbo a').

No puedes despegarte de tus responsabilidades así como así.

You can't just walk away from your responsibilities like that.

Reflexive 'despegarse' with an idiomatic ending ('así como así').

El precio de la vivienda ha despegado en los últimos años.

The price of housing has skyrocketed in recent years.

Metaphorical use meaning 'to increase rapidly'.

La lírica del poeta parece despegarse de lo terrenal para alcanzar lo divino.

The poet's lyricism seems to detach itself from the earthly to reach the divine.

Reflexive 'despegarse' in a philosophical/literary sense.

El despegue definitivo de la nación depende de reformas estructurales.

The nation's definitive takeoff depends on structural reforms.

Noun form used in a complex political context.

Sus palabras no lograban despegarse de un tono sarcástico e hiriente.

His words couldn't shed a sarcastic and hurtful tone.

Reflexive used to describe a persistent quality.

La vanguardia artística buscaba despegarse de los cánones tradicionales.

The artistic avant-garde sought to break away from traditional canons.

Reflexive used for historical/artistic movements.

Tras el escándalo, el político intentó despegarse de sus antiguos aliados.

After the scandal, the politician tried to distance himself from his former allies.

Reflexive used for social/political distancing.

El alma, según el místico, se despega del cuerpo durante el éxtasis.

The soul, according to the mystic, detaches from the body during ecstasy.

Reflexive in a spiritual/theological context.

Hubo un despegue en la investigación científica gracias a la nueva beca.

There was a breakthrough in scientific research thanks to the new grant.

Noun 'despegue' meaning 'breakthrough' or 'surge'.

La mirada de la madre no se despegaba de su hijo recién nacido.

The mother's gaze did not waver from her newborn son.

Reflexive 'se despegaba' in the imperfect tense for continuous action.

Common Collocations

despegar el vuelo

pista de despegue

despegar con éxito

no despegar ojo

despegar una etiqueta

despegar los labios

listo para despegar

despegarse de la realidad

fuerza de despegue

despegarse del grupo

Common Phrases

El avión va a despegar.

— The plane is going to take off. Used commonly in airports.

Abróchense los cinturones, el avión va a despegar.

Despegar una pegatina.

— To peel off a sticker. Used in daily household contexts.

Usa un poco de alcohol para despegar la pegatina.

No despegar ojo.

— To not sleep a wink. A very common informal idiom.

Con este calor no he despegado ojo en toda la noche.

Despegar en el mercado.

— To take off in the market. Used for successful products.

Esperamos que la marca despegue en el mercado asiático.

No despegarse de alguien.

— To not leave someone's side. Often used for kids or pets.

El cachorro no se despega de su dueño.

Pista de despegue.

— Runway. The place where planes take off.

Hay tres aviones esperando en la pista de despegue.

Despegar con retraso.

— To take off with a delay. A common travel frustration.

Lo siento, el vuelo despegó con dos horas de retraso.

Despegarse de la pared.

— To come off the wall. Used for posters or wallpaper.

El papel se está despegando de la pared por la humedad.

No despegar los labios.

— To not say a word. Used when someone is silent.

Estaba tan enfadado que no despegó los labios.

Hacer despegar un proyecto.

— To get a project off the ground. Used in professional settings.

Necesitamos un buen líder para hacer despegar este proyecto.

Often Confused With

despegar vs quitarse

English speakers use 'take off' for clothes, but Spanish uses 'quitarse.' 'Despegar' is only for sticking or flying.

despegar vs arrancar

Arrancar means to pull out or start a motor. Despegar means to unstick or take flight.

despegar vs despertar

Beginners sometimes confuse these because of the 'des-' prefix and 'p' sound, but they are unrelated.

Idioms & Expressions

"No despegar ojo"

— To not be able to sleep at all during the night.

Anoche hubo mucha fiesta y no despegué ojo.

informal

"No despegar los labios"

— To remain completely silent, often out of anger or stubbornness.

Le pregunté mil veces, pero no despegó los labios.

neutral

"Despegarse de las sábanas"

— To struggle to get out of bed in the morning.

Hoy me ha costado mucho despegarme de las sábanas.

informal

"No despegarse del móvil"

— To be constantly using one's phone.

Mi hijo no se despega del móvil ni para comer.

informal

"Despegar el vuelo"

— To start a journey or a new phase of life.

Es hora de que despegues el vuelo y busques tu propio camino.

literary

"Despegarse de la realidad"

— To lose touch with what is actually happening.

Vive en un mundo de fantasía, se ha despegado de la realidad.

neutral

"Estar listo para el despegue"

— To be fully prepared for a major change or start.

He terminado mis estudios y estoy listo para el despegue.

metaphorical

"No despegarse de la falda de mamá"

— To be overly dependent on one's mother (usually said of children).

Es un niño muy tímido que no se despega de la falda de su mamá.

informal/child-friendly

"Despegar con fuerza"

— To start something with a lot of energy and immediate success.

La campaña publicitaria despegó con fuerza en las redes sociales.

business

"Despegarse los ojos"

— To stare very intently at something (less common than 'no despegar ojo').

Se despegaba los ojos mirando aquel cuadro tan extraño.

neutral

Easily Confused

despegar vs pegar

It is the root word.

Pegar means to stick or hit; despegar is the opposite (to unstick) or to take off.

Pegué el cartel, pero luego tuve que despegarlo.

despegar vs desprender

Both mean to detach.

Desprender is more formal and often refers to things falling off naturally; despegar refers to unsticking adhesive.

La flor desprende aroma; yo despego la etiqueta.

despegar vs subir

Both involve going up.

Subir is general (stairs, elevator); despegar is specific to aircraft leaving the ground.

Subí al avión antes de que despegara.

despegar vs partir

Both mean to leave.

Partir is general departure (train/bus); despegar is specifically becoming airborne.

El tren parte, pero el avión despega.

despegar vs aterrizar

They are often used together.

Aterrizar is the opposite (to land); despegar is the start (to take off).

Primero despega y luego aterriza.

Sentence Patterns

El [vehículo] despega a las [hora].

El avión despega a las nueve.

No puedo despegar [objeto].

No puedo despegar este cromo.

Su [proyecto/carrera] está empezando a despegar.

Su carrera de actor está empezando a despegar.

No despegar ojo en toda la [noche/tarde].

No despegué ojo en toda la noche.

[Sujeto] se despegó de [grupo/persona].

El ciclista se despegó del grupo.

Espero que [sujeto] despegue pronto.

Espero que la economía despegue pronto.

Despegarse de [prejuicios/ideas].

Debemos despegarnos de los prejuicios antiguos.

Un despegue [adjetivo formal] de la [entidad].

Un despegue meteórico de la industria tecnológica.

Word Family

Nouns

despegue (takeoff)

pegamento (glue)

pegatina (sticker)

Verbs

pegar (to stick/hit)

apegarse (to become attached)

despegarse (to become detached)

Adjectives

despegado (detached/aloof)

despegable (detachable)

pegajoso (sticky)

aterrizaje (landing)

vuelo (flight)

aeropuerto (airport)

adhesivo (adhesive)

etiqueta (label)

How to Use It

frequency

High, especially in travel and business contexts.

Common Mistakes

Despegar la chaqueta. → Quitarse la chaqueta.
'Despegar' is for stuck things or planes. Clothes use 'quitarse.'
El avión despega a Madrid. → El avión despega hacia Madrid / El avión despega de Madrid.
Use 'de' for the starting point and 'hacia' or 'con destino a' for the destination.
La etiqueta despegó del frasco. → La etiqueta se despegó del frasco.
Inanimate objects coming off need the reflexive 'se.'
No despegué los ojos. → No despegué ojo.
The idiom is usually singular: 'no despegar ojo.'
El motor despegó. → El motor arrancó.
Motors 'arrancar' (start); planes 'despegar' (take off).

Tips

Watch the 'Se'

If a sticker falls off on its own, use 'se despegó.' If you pulled it off, use 'despegué.' The 'se' changes the responsibility of the action.

Aviation Pair

Always learn 'despegar' with 'aterrizar' (to land). They are the perfect pair for travel vocabulary.

Sleepy Eyes

Use 'no despegar ojo' in the past tense to tell your friends you had a rough, sleepless night.

Professional Growth

Use 'despegar' in interviews or meetings to describe the rapid growth of a project or your own career path.

End Stress

Make sure you stress the 'gar' at the end. In Spanish, infinitive verbs ending in -ar always have the stress on the last syllable.

Labels and Stickers

If you are buying something in a Spanish shop and want the label removed, you can ask: '¿Podría despegar la etiqueta, por favor?'

Rocket Start

Think of 'despegar' as having 'escape velocity.' It's not just moving; it's breaking free and going up.

Clingy Kids

Native speakers often say 'el niño no se despega de su madre' to describe a very attached child.

Not for Clothes

Never use 'despegar' for clothes unless they are literally glued to you. Use 'quitarse' instead.

Subjunctive Use

When you are at the gate and hoping for departure, use the subjunctive: 'Ojalá despeguemos pronto.'

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'PEGGED' item being 'DIS-PEGGED.' If you remove the peg (or the glue), it can finally 'des-pegar' and fly away.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant sticker of an airplane. When you peel (despegar) the sticker off the ground, the real airplane underneath can finally take off (despegar).

Word Web

avión pegatina éxito separar vuelo pista pegamento despegue

Challenge

Try to use 'despegar' in three different ways today: one about a trip, one about a sticker/label, and one about a goal you have.

Word Origin

Derived from the Spanish verb 'pegar' (to stick), which comes from the Latin 'picare' (to cover with pitch/tar). The prefix 'des-' indicates the reversal of the action.

Original meaning: To remove the pitch or tar that was holding something together; hence, to unstick.

Romance (Latin origin).

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities, but be careful with 'despegado' when describing people, as it can sound insulting.

English speakers often use 'take off' for clothes, but in Spanish, this is a mistake. Always remember: clothes = quitarse, planes = despegar.

The phrase 'listo para el despegue' is commonly used in Spanish versions of space movies like 'Apollo 13'. Many Latin pop songs use 'despegar' as a metaphor for starting a new life after a breakup. News headlines often use 'El despegue de...' to refer to the rise of new politicians.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Travel / Airport

¿A qué hora despega el vuelo?
El avión ya ha despegado.
Pista de despegue.
Retraso en el despegue.

Business / Career

Su carrera está despegando.
El negocio despegó este año.
Ayudar a despegar un proyecto.
Un despegue económico.

Daily Life / Repairs

Despegar una pegatina.
Se ha despegado la suela.
No puedo despegar esto.
Despegar el papel de la pared.

Social / Emotional

No se despega de su madre.
Despegarse de los problemas.
Un hombre muy despegado.
No despegar los labios.

Sports

Se despegó del grupo.
Sacar ventaja y despegarse.
El equipo despegó en la tabla.
Un despegue potente.

Conversation Starters

"¿Alguna vez has estado en un avión que no podía despegar por el mal tiempo?"

"¿Qué proyecto personal te gustaría que despegara este año?"

"¿Te resulta fácil despegarte del móvil durante el fin de semana?"

"¿Cuál es el truco más efectivo para despegar una etiqueta difícil?"

"¿A qué edad crees que los hijos deben despegarse totalmente de sus padres?"

Journal Prompts

Describe un momento en tu vida en el que sentiste que tu carrera o tus estudios finalmente empezaron a despegar.

Escribe sobre un viaje en avión que recuerdes especialmente, enfocándote en el momento del despegue.

¿Hay algún hábito del que te gustaría despegarte? Explica por qué y cómo piensas hacerlo.

Imagina que tienes una empresa nueva. ¿Qué pasos seguirías para que despegara con éxito en el mercado?

Reflexiona sobre la importancia de saber despegarse de las cosas materiales para ser feliz.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you should use 'quitarse.' 'Despegar' would imply your shoes are glued to your feet. For example, say 'me quito los zapatos' instead of 'despego los zapatos.'

The noun is 'el despegue.' It is used for both airplanes and metaphorical starts, such as 'el despegue de la economía' (the economic takeoff).

Yes, it is a completely regular '-ar' verb. It follows the same conjugation rules as 'hablar' or 'cantar' in all tenses.

The phrase is 'no despegar ojo.' For example: 'No despegué ojo en toda la noche' (I didn't sleep a wink all night).

Use 'despegarse' when something detaches by itself (like a sticker falling off) or when a person distances themselves from someone else emotionally or physically.

Yes, it is used for rockets, space shuttles, and helicopters—any aircraft or spacecraft leaving the ground to fly.

'Despegar' usually involves overcoming glue or adhesive. 'Desprender' is more formal and can mean to release a smell, heat, or for a part to naturally fall off a whole.

Yes, metaphorically. When a career or business 'despega,' it means it has started to become very successful very quickly, just like a plane gaining speed.

It is 'pista de despegue' or simply 'pista.' The term specifically refers to the strip where the 'despegue' occurs.

It means to stay completely quiet or refuse to speak. It literally translates to 'not to unstick the lips.'