merecido
“merecido” means “deserved” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
deserved
Also: well-earned, rightful
📝 In Action
Después de trabajar tanto, tienes un merecido descanso.
A2After working so much, you have a well-earned rest.
Fue un premio muy merecido.
B1It was a very well-deserved prize.
just deserts
Also: punishment
📝 In Action
El villano al final recibió su merecido.
B2The villain finally got what he deserved.
Se llevó su merecido por mentir.
B2He got his just deserts for lying.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "merecido" in Spanish:
deserved→just deserts→punishment→rightful→well-earned→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: merecido
Question 1 of 2
If someone wins a race after training for years, you would say it was a...
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the Spanish verb 'merecer', which comes from the Latin 'merērī', meaning 'to earn, deserve, or acquire as a share'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'merecido' always mean something bad?
No! As an adjective, it's often positive (like 'a well-earned vacation'). It's only as a noun ('su merecido') that it usually implies a negative consequence or punishment.
What is the feminine form of 'merecido'?
The feminine form is 'merecida'. You use it when describing feminine nouns, such as 'una recompensa merecida' (a deserved reward).