merece
“merece” means “deserves” in Spanish (as in, 'he/she/it deserves').
deservesAlso: merits, earns
📝 In Action
Él siempre trabaja duro, merece el ascenso.
A2He always works hard; he deserves the promotion.
¿Qué tipo de premio merece un esfuerzo tan grande?
B1What kind of prize does such a huge effort deserve?
Usted merece una disculpa sincera por el error.
B2You (formal) deserve a sincere apology for the mistake.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: merece
Question 1 of 2
Which Spanish pronoun uses the verb form 'merece'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
Comes from the Vulgar Latin verb *merescere*, meaning 'to acquire merit or worth,' which itself comes from the root *mereri* (to earn, to deserve).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'it's worth it' using the root verb 'merecer'?
The common phrase is 'Merece la pena.' For example, 'Viajar a ese lugar merece la pena' (Traveling to that place is worth the trouble/effort).
Is 'merece' always about positive things?
No. While often used for rewards or recognition, 'merece' can also be used for negative consequences, like 'Merece un castigo' (He deserves a punishment).