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merced

mer-SED/meɾˈθed/

“merced” means “at the mercy of” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

at the mercy of

Also: at the disposal of
NounfB2
A small wooden boat floating on a vast, wavy blue ocean under a large sky.

📝 In Action

El barco quedó a merced de las olas durante la tormenta.

B1

The boat was left at the mercy of the waves during the storm.

No quiero vivir a merced de los caprichos de mi jefe.

B2

I don't want to live at the mercy of my boss's whims.

Toda mi fortuna está a su merced.

C1

My entire fortune is at your disposal.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • voluntad (will/disposal)
  • arbitrio (free will/discretion)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • a merced de – at the mercy of
  • quedar a merced – to be left at someone's mercy

Idioms & Expressions

  • A su merced – Ready to do whatever someone wants

favor, mercy

Also: grant
NounfC1formal
A king in a gold crown handing a heavy bag of gold coins to a humble villager.

📝 In Action

El rey le concedió la merced de un título noble.

C1

The king granted him the favor of a noble title.

Esperamos la merced divina.

C2

We hope for divine mercy.

Muchas gracias por vuestra merced.

C1

Thank you very much for your kindness.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • vuestra merced – your honor/your grace (archaic)
  • merced de tierra – land grant

Idioms & Expressions

  • Vuestra merced – An old way to say 'You' (the origin of the word 'usted')

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "merced" in Spanish:

favor→grant→mercy→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: merced

Question 1 of 3

What is the most common way to hear the word 'merced' used today?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
Mercedes(A popular female name) — Noun
mercedario(related to the Order of Mercy) — Adjective
merecer(to deserve) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'mercedem', which originally meant 'payment', 'reward', or 'wages'. Over time, it evolved to mean a 'favor' or 'grace' given freely.

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: mercyFrench: merci

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'merced' the same as 'misericordia'?

They are similar, but 'misericordia' specifically refers to compassion toward someone suffering, while 'merced' usually refers to a favor, a gift, or being under someone's power.

Should I use 'merced' to say 'thank you' like in French (merci)?

No. In Spanish, you use 'gracias'. Using 'merced' to mean 'thanks' is not done in modern Spanish.

Why is 'merced' feminine if it doesn't end in 'a'?

In Spanish, most words ending in '-ed' or '-dad' are feminine. Just remember it as 'la merced'.