respeta
/reh-SPEH-tah/
respects
A child respects an elder by listening carefully.
respeta(verb)
respects
?when talking about a third person or thing
honors
?to show deep regard for something
,follows
?referring to rules or laws
📝 In Action
Ella respeta mucho a sus profesores.
A2She respects her teachers a lot.
El conductor respeta las señales de tráfico.
A2The driver respects/follows the traffic signs.
Usted respeta la privacidad de los demás.
B1You (formal) respect the privacy of others.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Personal A'
When 'respeta' is used to describe respecting a person, you must put the word 'a' before the person's name or title (e.g., 'respeta a su madre').
Two-in-One Form
This word works as a statement ('He respects') and also as a command to a friend ('Respect!').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the 'a'
Mistake: "Él respeta su padre."
Correction: Él respeta a su padre. Always use 'a' when the action is directed at a specific human.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking to Friends
Use 'respeta' as a quick, firm command if someone is being rude: '¡Respeta!'
A command to respect a boundary or space.
respeta(verb)
respect!
?a command given to one person
show respect
?an instruction to be polite
📝 In Action
Hijo, respeta a tus mayores.
A2Son, respect your elders.
Respeta el silencio de la biblioteca.
A2Respect the silence of the library.
💡 Grammar Points
Commands for Friends
This specific form is used when you are telling one person you know well (tú) to do something.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Formal vs Informal
Mistake: ""
Correction:
⭐ Usage Tips
Being Direct
In Spanish, using this command isn't always rude; it is often used for teaching children or giving firm advice.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: respeta
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'respeta' to mean 'She respects the law'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'respeta' formal or informal?
It depends! As a statement ('he respects'), it is neutral. As a command ('Respect!'), it is informal, used with friends or family.
Does it mean the same thing as 'cumple'?
Sometimes. 'Respeta las reglas' and 'Cumple las reglas' both mean following rules, but 'respeta' implies a deeper level of consideration or honor.