Sair ou deixar. When is each used?

Portuguese Questions Verbs
1

Eu saio a casa. But Eu deixo o autocarro.
Eu saio do prédio, but Eu deixo o avião.

Is it the case that sair is used more for saying that a building is being vacated and deixar for other things?

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Hmm, the two verbs can overlap to some extent, actually. I would actually use “sair” for all of those, personally:

  • Eu saio de casa.
  • Eu saio do autocarro.
  • Eu saio do prédio.
  • Eu saio do avião.

For me, to put it simply, sair is just to leave, in general. On the other hand, deixar is more to leave something behind and it feels longer term/permanent. So, to me, if you said “Eu deixei a casa” and you were talking about your own place, I would wonder if you moved out. I would also use “deixar” (never “sair”) for when you’re just dropping things/people off somewhere.

  • Deixa o livro ali. = Leave the book over there.
  • Podes deixar-me na escola? = Can you drop me off at school?
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Thanks for clearing that up Joseph. I was using a Brazilian learning program before this so it may be more of a Brazilian way of using the verbs.

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Ah, could be, not sure. In any case, even in Portugal, if you used “deixar”, you would still be understood :slight_smile:

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