"Leave" is to go away or abandon something; "quit" is to stop something permanently or to give up.
To go away from a place, to abandon someone, or to leave a job. Broad and neutral.
I am leaving the office at 5pm today. See you tomorrow.
Estoy saliendo de la oficina a las 5pm hoy. Hasta manana.
She left her husband after fifteen years of marriage.
Ella dejo a su esposo despues de quince anos de matrimonio.
Do not leave your bags unattended at the airport.
No dejes tu equipaje desatendido en el aeropuerto.
To stop doing something permanently — a job, habit, or activity. Implies complete cessation.
He quit smoking after his doctor warned him about his health.
El dejo de fumar despues de que su medico le advirtio sobre su salud.
She quit her job to start her own business.
Ella renuncio a su trabajo para iniciar su propio negocio.
Do not quit — you are so close to finishing.
No te rindas. Estas muy cerca de terminar.
Common mistake
Main confusion: "I left the job" and "I quit the job" both work for resigning, but with nuances. "I left" can imply you went away (perhaps fired or contract ended). "I quit" implies you made the active decision to leave. For habits: "I left smoking" does NOT exist — correct is always "I quit smoking."
Trick to remember it
For habits and addictions, only "quit" works: "quit smoking", "quit drinking", "quit biting your nails". For jobs, both are possible but different: "leave a job" = go away from it (focus on movement). "Quit a job" = actively resign (focus on the decision). For physical places, only "leave": "I left the building."
Quick rule
Leave = go away from (place, person, job). Quit = permanently stop (habits, job by own decision).
Did you know?
"Quit" has an irregular past form: in American English "quit" stays "quit" in the past (no change). In British English "quitted" is also used. And "quitter" (someone who gives up) is one of the mildest insults in American English — calling someone a "quitter" implies lack of perseverance. "Do not be a quitter" is a classic motivational phrase.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She _____ her job at the bank to pursue her dream of becoming a chef.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
My doctor told me to _____ sugar if I want to improve my health.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Leave = go away from (place, person, job). Quit = permanently stop (habits, job by own decision).
Main confusion: "I left the job" and "I quit the job" both work for resigning, but with nuances. "I left" can imply you went away (perhaps fired or contract ended). "I quit" implies you made the active decision to leave. For habits: "I left smoking" does NOT exist — correct is always "I quit smoking."
For habits and addictions, only "quit" works: "quit smoking", "quit drinking", "quit biting your nails". For jobs, both are possible but different: "leave a job" = go away from it (focus on movement). "Quit a job" = actively resign (focus on the decision). For physical places, only "leave": "I left the building."
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy