obedecer
oh-beh-deh-sehr
Quick Reference
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
The Spelling Change
For the 'yo' form in the present, the 'c' changes to 'zc' (obedezco). This same change happens in all the 'special' verb forms used for wishes and commands.
Using the 'Personal A'
When you are obeying a specific person or pet, you must put the word 'a' before them: 'Obedezco a mi jefa'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the 'zc'
Mistake: "Yo obedeco."
Correction: Yo obedezco. Verbs ending in -ecer almost always add a 'z' before the 'c' in the 'yo' form.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Polite Way to Comply
In formal settings, instead of just saying 'I will do it,' saying 'voy a obedecer las instrucciones' sounds very professional.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: obedecer
Question 1 of 2
How do you say 'I obey' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
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'.