obedecer
“obedecer” means “to obey” in Spanish (to follow orders or instructions).
to obey
Also: to comply with, to respond to
📝 In Action
Los niños deben obedecer a sus padres.
A1Children must obey their parents.
Es importante obedecer las señales de tráfico.
A2It is important to follow the traffic signs.
Mis piernas no me obedecen después de correr tanto.
B1My legs aren't responding after running so much.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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Words that translate to "obedecer" in Spanish:
to obey→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: obedecer
Question 1 of 2
How do you say 'I obey' in Spanish?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'oboedire', which is a combination of 'ob' (towards) and 'audire' (to hear). It literally means 'to listen toward' someone.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'obedecer' regular or irregular?
It is mostly regular, but it has a spelling change in the 'yo' form of the present tense (obedezco) and in the entire present subjunctive (obedezca, obedezcas, etc.).
Do I always need to use 'a' after it?
Only if you are obeying a person or a personified thing (like a pet). If you are obeying a law or a rule, you can just say 'obedecer la ley'.