merecen
“merecen” means “they deserve” in Spanish (referring to a group of people or things).
they deserve, you all deserve
Also: they merit
📝 In Action
Ellos merecen un descanso después de tanto trabajo.
B1They deserve a break after so much work.
Ustedes merecen todos los honores por su valentía.
B2You all deserve all the honors for your bravery.
Los estudiantes que se esforzaron merecen las mejores notas.
B1The students who put in the effort deserve the best grades.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: merecen
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the base verb 'merecer' in the 'yo' (I) form?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *merēscere*, which means 'to acquire, to gain, or to become worthy of.' The idea of earning something good or bad has been preserved through the centuries.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'merecen' mean they deserve something good or something bad?
'Merecen' is neutral. It simply means they are worthy of whatever follows, which could be positive ('merecen un premio' - they deserve a prize) or negative ('merecen un castigo' - they deserve a punishment).
Is 'merecen' used for 'they' or for 'you all'?
It is used for both! It is the third-person plural conjugation, which covers 'ellos' (they, masculine/mixed group), 'ellas' (they, feminine group), and 'ustedes' (you all, formal or common in Latin America).