When you want to express the idea of undoing something, deshacer is the verb you're looking for. It's often used when you need to reverse a process or action. Think of it as taking something back to its original state or simply canceling out what has been done. For instance, if you make a mistake, you can deshacer it.
§ Understanding 'Deshacer'
The Spanish verb 'deshacer' is a versatile word that literally means 'to undo' or 'to reverse.' It's often used when talking about actions that can be reversed, like untying a knot, canceling a decision, or dismantling something. Think of it as the opposite of 'hacer' (to do/make).
- Spanish Word
- Deshacer (verb)
- CEFR Level
- B1
- Definition
- To undo or reverse the effects of an action; to untie, dismantle, or cancel.
§ Common Uses and Grammar
You'll find 'deshacer' used in a variety of contexts, from everyday tasks to more abstract situations. Let's look at some common ways to use it.
- To undo something physical: This is a straightforward use, similar to 'unmake' or 'take apart.'
Necesito deshacer la maleta después del viaje.
(I need to unpack the suitcase after the trip. / Literally: undo the suitcase)
El niño intentó deshacer el nudo.
(The child tried to untie the knot.)
- To reverse a decision or action: This is a more figurative use, where 'deshacer' means to cancel or retract.
No podemos deshacer lo que ya está hecho.
(We cannot undo what is already done.)
Me gustaría deshacer mis palabras, pero es tarde.
(I would like to take back my words, but it's too late.)
- 'Deshacerse de' (to get rid of): This is a very common reflexive construction. When 'deshacer' is used with 'se' and the preposition 'de,' it completely changes its meaning to 'to get rid of' or 'to dispose of.'
Necesito deshacerme de estos papeles viejos.
(I need to get rid of these old papers.)
Ella se deshizo de sus miedos.
(She got rid of her fears.)
- With direct objects: 'Deshacer' usually takes a direct object, which is the thing being undone or reversed.
Voy a deshacer el suéter que tejí mal.
(I am going to unravel the sweater I knitted incorrectly.)
§ Practical Examples
Here are more sentences to help you see 'deshacer' in action:
El programa permite deshacer la última acción.
(The program allows you to undo the last action.)
Es imposible deshacer los daños causados por la tormenta.
(It is impossible to undo the damage caused by the storm.)
Se deshizo de todos sus viejos juguetes.
(He got rid of all his old toys.)
Remember, context is key! Pay attention to whether 'deshacer' is used alone or with 'se' and 'de' to understand its exact meaning in a sentence.
§ Understanding 'Deshacer'
Alright, let's talk about deshacer. This isn't just a word you'll find in textbooks; it's super common in everyday Spanish conversations. Think of it as 'to undo' or 'to reverse.' It's a handy verb to know because we all make mistakes or need to change things, right?
- Spanish Word
- deshacer (verb)
- Definition
- To undo or reverse the effects of an action.
§ 'Deshacer' at Work
In a professional setting, you'll hear deshacer when someone needs to reverse a decision, an action, or a process. It's about correcting something that's already been done.
Imagine you're in a meeting, and a colleague suggests changing a plan.
Tenemos que deshacer el cambio en el documento antes de enviarlo. (We have to undo the change in the document before sending it.)
Or, if you're working on a project and realize a previous step was incorrect.
Necesitamos deshacer la configuración anterior para que funcione. (We need to undo the previous configuration for it to work.)
§ 'Deshacer' in School
Students and teachers use deshacer often, especially when dealing with assignments, projects, or even just writing.
A student might realize they wrote the wrong answer.
Voy a deshacer esta oración; no tiene sentido. (I'm going to undo this sentence; it doesn't make sense.)
Or perhaps when a teacher is giving instructions about a task.
Si cometen un error, pueden deshacer la última acción con este botón. (If you make a mistake, you can undo the last action with this button.)
§ 'Deshacer' in the News
News reports often use deshacer when discussing decisions being overturned, agreements being canceled, or policies being reversed. It's all about actions that are being annulled.
You might read about a government reversing a new law.
El nuevo gobierno planea deshacer varias de las leyes anteriores. (The new government plans to undo several of the previous laws.)
Or about a company withdrawing a previous statement.
La empresa tuvo que deshacer su declaración inicial después de nuevas pruebas. (The company had to undo its initial statement after new evidence.)
§ Don't Confuse 'Deshacer' with 'Romper' (To Break)
Many learners mistakenly use 'romper' when they mean 'deshacer.' While both can imply a negative change, 'romper' specifically means to break something physically, often into pieces, or to break a rule/agreement. 'Deshacer,' on the other hand, is about undoing or reversing an action, a plan, or something that was constructed. Think of it as unmaking or canceling, not physically damaging.
- DEFINITION
- To break something physically.
Ella rompió el vaso. (She broke the glass.)
Tienes que deshacer el nudo. (You have to undo the knot.)
§ Misusing 'Deshacerse de' (To Get Rid Of)
Another common error is to use 'deshacer' by itself when you actually mean 'deshacerse de,' which is a reflexive verb phrase meaning 'to get rid of' something. If you're talking about discarding an item or getting rid of a problem, you need the reflexive form.
- DEFINITION
- To get rid of something.
Necesito deshacerme de estos papeles viejos. (I need to get rid of these old papers.)
If you just say 'deshacer estos papeles viejos,' it sounds like you're trying to 'undo' or 'unmake' the papers, which doesn't make sense in this context.
§ Incorrect Verb Conjugation
'Deshacer' is an irregular verb, following the pattern of 'hacer' (to do/make). This means its conjugations can be tricky, especially in certain tenses. A common mistake is to conjugate it as a regular -er verb.
Here are some key irregular forms:
- Present Tense (yo): 'deshago' (not 'deshaco')
- Preterite Tense (él/ella/usted): 'deshizo' (not 'deshació')
- Future Tense (all forms): Stem changes to 'deshar-' (e.g., 'desharé,' 'desharás')
Yo deshago el equipaje. (I undo the luggage.)
Él deshizo el acuerdo. (He undid the agreement.)
§ Omitting the Direct Object
'Deshacer' typically takes a direct object – you undo *something*. Forgetting to include what is being undone can lead to an incomplete or confusing sentence. Always ask yourself, 'What am I undoing?'
Necesito deshacer el entuerto. (I need to right the wrong / undo the injustice.)
Saying just 'Necesito deshacer' would leave the listener wondering, 'Undo what?' Make sure your sentences are clear and complete by including the direct object.
发音指南
- pronouncing the 'h' sound
- incorrect stress on the first or second syllable
按水平分级的例句
Puedes deshacer el último cambio en el documento.
You can undo the last change in the document.
Verb 'deshacer' conjugated in the 'tú' form of the present tense.
Necesito deshacer este nudo, está muy apretado.
I need to undo this knot, it's very tight.
Infinitive 'deshacer' used after 'necesitar'.
Ella deshizo su maleta para guardar la ropa.
She unpacked her suitcase to store the clothes.
Verb 'deshacer' conjugated in the 'ella' form of the preterite tense.
Si cometes un error, puedes deshacerlo.
If you make a mistake, you can undo it.
Verb 'deshacer' conjugated in the 'tú' form of the present tense, with a direct object pronoun 'lo'.
Vamos a deshacer el rompecabezas y empezar de nuevo.
We are going to undo the puzzle and start again.
Infinitive 'deshacer' used in the 'ir a + infinitive' future construction.
No sé cómo deshacer este hechizo.
I don't know how to undo this spell.
Infinitive 'deshacer' used after 'saber cómo'.
Se deshizo la trenza para lavar su cabello.
She undid her braid to wash her hair.
Reflexive verb 'deshacerse' conjugated in the 'ella' form of the preterite tense.
Espero que no tengas que deshacer todo el trabajo.
I hope you don't have to undo all the work.
Infinitive 'deshacer' used after 'tener que'.
Después de enviar el email, me di cuenta de un error y deseé poder deshacer el envío.
After sending the email, I realized a mistake and wished I could undo the sending.
Here, 'deshacer el envío' means to undo the sending, treating 'envío' (sending) as the noun affected by 'deshacer'.
Para deshacer los cambios, simplemente haz clic en el botón 'deshacer' en la barra de herramientas.
To undo the changes, simply click the 'undo' button in the toolbar.
The infinitive 'deshacer' is used after 'para' (to) to express purpose. 'Los cambios' are the direct object.
El mago prometió deshacer el hechizo si la princesa accedía a casarse con él.
The magician promised to undo the spell if the princess agreed to marry him.
'Deshacer el hechizo' (to undo the spell) is a common collocation. Note the use of the subjunctive 'accediera' after 'si'.
Es difícil deshacer una primera impresión, por eso es importante ser amable desde el principio.
It's difficult to undo a first impression, that's why it's important to be kind from the beginning.
'Deshacer una primera impresión' is a figurative use of 'deshacer'. The impersonal 'es difícil' is followed by the infinitive.
Si accidentalmente borraste algo, puedes deshacer la acción presionando Ctrl+Z.
If you accidentally deleted something, you can undo the action by pressing Ctrl+Z.
Another common use in technology contexts. 'Deshacer la acción' (to undo the action) is a direct object construction.
La decisión del gobierno es tan impopular que será muy difícil deshacerla.
The government's decision is so unpopular that it will be very difficult to undo it.
The pronoun 'la' (it/her) refers to 'la decisión' and is attached to the infinitive 'deshacerla'.
Ella intentó deshacer el nudo, pero estaba demasiado apretado.
She tried to undo the knot, but it was too tight.
'Deshacer el nudo' (to undo the knot) is a literal and very common use of 'deshacer'.
Una vez que la palabra ha sido dicha, es imposible deshacerla.
Once the word has been said, it's impossible to undo it.
Similar to the previous example, 'la' refers to 'la palabra'. This is a common saying in Spanish.
Después de tanto esfuerzo, tener que deshacer todo el trabajo fue realmente desmoralizador.
After so much effort, having to undo all the work was truly demoralizing.
Here, 'deshacer' is used to express reversing the entirety of a previous effort.
El gobierno intentó deshacer algunas de las leyes más polémicas aprobadas por la administración anterior.
The government tried to undo some of the most controversial laws passed by the previous administration.
In this context, 'deshacer' refers to nullifying or revoking legislation.
No podemos deshacer el pasado, pero sí podemos aprender de él y construir un futuro mejor.
We cannot undo the past, but we can learn from it and build a better future.
This sentence uses 'deshacer' to emphasize the impossibility of changing past events.
Me arrepentí de lo que dije y traté de deshacer el daño con una disculpa sincera.
I regretted what I said and tried to undo the damage with a sincere apology.
Here, 'deshacer' means to mitigate or repair harm caused by actions or words.
La tormenta amenazaba con deshacer los cimientos de la vieja cabaña de madera.
The storm threatened to undo the foundations of the old wooden cabin.
This example shows 'deshacer' in the sense of dismantling or destroying a structure.
Con un solo clic, puedes deshacer la última acción que realizaste en el programa.
With a single click, you can undo the last action you performed in the program.
A common use of 'deshacer' in technology, meaning to reverse a computer command.
Sería imprudente deshacer los acuerdos internacionales que tanto nos costó negociar.
It would be unwise to undo the international agreements that cost us so much to negotiate.
Similar to the government example, 'deshacer' refers to nullifying or breaking agreements.
Aunque es difícil, debemos intentar deshacer los nudos de resentimiento que nos impiden avanzar.
Although it's difficult, we must try to undo the knots of resentment that prevent us from moving forward.
In this metaphorical sense, 'deshacer' means to resolve or disentangle emotional complexities.
自我测试 54 个问题
Choose the best translation for 'deshacer'.
'Deshacer' means to reverse an action or to undo something.
Which word is the opposite of 'hacer' (to do/make)?
'Deshacer' is the direct opposite of 'hacer', meaning to reverse the action of making or doing.
If you make a mistake, what do you want to do?
When you make a mistake, you usually want to undo it.
If you 'deshacer' a knot, you are making it tighter.
To 'deshacer' a knot means to untie it or loosen it, not make it tighter.
'Deshacer' means to repeat an action.
'Deshacer' means to reverse or undo an action, not to repeat it.
You can 'deshacer' a wrong decision.
Yes, you can 'deshacer' (undo) a wrong decision by changing it or reversing its effects.
Imagine you drew a picture you don't like. How would you say in Spanish, 'I want to undo the drawing'?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Quiero deshacer el dibujo.
You accidentally typed the wrong word. How would you tell a friend, 'I need to undo this word'?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Necesito deshacer esta palabra.
Your friend made a small mistake while building something with blocks. You want to help. How would you say, 'We can undo this part'?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Podemos deshacer esta parte.
¿Qué necesita María para corregir su error?
Read this passage:
María hizo una torre con bloques. Se equivocó y puso un bloque en el lugar incorrecto. Ella quiere quitarlo.
¿Qué necesita María para corregir su error?
María necesita 'deshacer' (undo) el bloque para corregir su error.
María necesita 'deshacer' (undo) el bloque para corregir su error.
¿Qué acción debe tomar Juan con su nombre repetido?
Read this passage:
Juan escribió una carta a su abuela. Escribió su nombre dos veces por error. Él quiere borrar una vez.
¿Qué acción debe tomar Juan con su nombre repetido?
Juan debe 'deshacer' (undo) el nombre que escribió por error.
Juan debe 'deshacer' (undo) el nombre que escribió por error.
¿Qué va a hacer mi hermano con la bandera roja?
Read this passage:
Mi hermano construyó un castillo de arena. Puso una bandera roja, pero quería una azul. Él necesita cambiarla.
¿Qué va a hacer mi hermano con la bandera roja?
Para cambiar la bandera, mi hermano va a 'deshacer' (undo) la roja.
Para cambiar la bandera, mi hermano va a 'deshacer' (undo) la roja.
This sentence means 'I want to undo the change.' It follows a simple subject-verb-object structure.
This sentence means 'She needs to unpack her suitcase.' 'Deshacer' can also mean to unpack.
This sentence means 'I cannot untie the knot.' 'Deshacer' can mean to untie.
Necesito ___ el nudo de mis zapatos. (I need to undo the knot in my shoes.)
The verb 'deshacer' means to undo, which fits the context of undoing a knot.
No puedo ___ el error que cometí. (I can't undo the mistake I made.)
'Deshacer' is used here to mean reverse or undo an error.
Si no te gusta, puedes ___ el cambio. (If you don't like it, you can undo the change.)
In this context, 'deshacer' means to reverse a change.
Ella tuvo que ___ la maleta para encontrar su pasaporte. (She had to unpack the suitcase to find her passport.)
'Deshacer' can also mean to unpack, which is appropriate for a suitcase.
No puedo ___ lo que se ha dicho. (I can't undo what has been said.)
Here, 'deshacer' implies reversing or taking back words that have been spoken.
Él necesita ___ el trabajo antes de irse. (He needs to undo the work before leaving.)
'Deshacer el trabajo' means to undo or dismantle the work, fitting the context of reversing an action.
Which word means to 'undo' in Spanish?
The word 'deshacer' specifically means to undo or reverse an action.
If you want to reverse a change you made to a document, which verb would you use?
'Deshacer' is the correct verb to use when you want to undo or reverse a change.
Which sentence correctly uses 'deshacer'?
'Deshacer un nudo' means to untie a knot, which is a common use of the verb 'deshacer'.
The verb 'deshacer' means to make something.
No, 'deshacer' means to undo or reverse, not to make.
You can use 'deshacer' when you want to untie something.
Yes, 'deshacer un nudo' (to untie a knot) is a correct use of 'deshacer'.
If you want to build something, you would use 'deshacer'.
No, 'deshacer' means to undo or take apart, not to build.
The speaker is talking about untying something.
The speaker is expressing surprise about someone getting rid of things.
This sounds like an instruction for correcting a mistake on a computer or device.
Read this aloud:
Por favor, deshaz la maleta cuando lleguemos al hotel.
Focus: deshaz
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Necesito deshacer mi trabajo porque lo hice mal.
Focus: deshacer
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
¿Podrías deshacer este envoltorio por mí, por favor?
Focus: deshacer
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Which sentence correctly uses 'deshacer' to mean 'to undo a knot'?
'Deshacer' is commonly used with 'nudo' (knot) to express untying it.
What is the best translation for 'deshacer un acuerdo'?
In this context, 'deshacer' implies reversing or cancelling an agreement.
If you want to 'undo a mistake' in Spanish, which phrase would you use?
'Deshacer un error' means to reverse or correct a mistake.
The phrase 'deshacer la maleta' means to pack the suitcase.
'Deshacer la maleta' means to unpack the suitcase, the opposite of packing.
You can use 'deshacer' when referring to destroying something, like 'deshacer un edificio'.
'Deshacer' can mean to dismantle or destroy something, like a building.
It is incorrect to use 'deshacer' to talk about dissolving a company or organization.
'Deshacer' is often used to describe the dissolution of a company or organization.
The programmer had to undo the last changes due to a critical error.
It's impossible to undo the damage once hurtful words have been spoken.
If you make a mistake, you can always undo it with a keyboard shortcut.
Read this aloud:
¿Podrías deshacer este nudo? Está demasiado apretado para mí.
Focus: des-ah-cehr
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Me arrepentí de mi decisión y quise deshacer lo que había hecho, pero ya era tarde.
Focus: ar-reh-pehn-tee
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Para deshacer la compra, necesitas el recibo original.
Focus: re-cee-boh
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The speaker is expressing frustration.
Something fraudulent was undone.
Think about common software functions.
Read this aloud:
Es crucial saber cuándo deshacer una decisión precipitada para evitar mayores complicaciones.
Focus: deshacer, precipitada, evitar, mayores, complicaciones
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
El gobierno tuvo que deshacer algunas de sus políticas económicas más impopulares.
Focus: gobierno, deshacer, políticas, económicas, impopulares
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
A veces, el progreso implica tener que deshacer el camino para encontrar una mejor dirección.
Focus: progreso, implica, deshacer, camino, encontrar, dirección
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 54 correct
Perfect score!
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