merecía
“merecía” means “I deserved” in Spanish (First person singular, past continuous state).
I deserved, He/She/It deserved, You (formal) deserved
Also: was deserving of
📝 In Action
Ella siempre decía que él merecía un castigo.
A2She always said that he deserved a punishment.
Yo sentía que merecía más reconocimiento por mi trabajo.
B1I felt that I deserved more recognition for my work.
En ese momento, el equipo no merecía ganar el partido.
B1At that moment, the team did not deserve to win the game.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "merecía" in Spanish:
i deserved→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: merecía
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'merecía' to describe a past state?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'merecer' comes from the Latin verb *merēre*, meaning 'to earn,' 'to deserve,' or 'to be worthy of.' It entered Spanish with a focus on moral worth or entitlement.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'merecía' the same as 'mereció'?
'Merecía' (Imperfect) and 'mereció' (Preterite) are both past tenses, but they describe the past differently. 'Merecía' describes a continuous or habitual state of deserving, like 'He was deserving' or 'He used to deserve.' 'Mereció' describes a single, completed moment of deserving: 'He deserved it (and now the moment is over).'