respetar
/reh-speh-TAR/
to respect
To show deference or high regard is to respect (respetar) someone.
respetar(Verb)
to respect
?to show deference or high regard
to admire
?to hold in high esteem
,to value
?to recognize the worth of something
📝 In Action
Debes respetar a tus mayores, siempre tienen algo que enseñar.
A2You should respect your elders; they always have something to teach.
Ella respeta mucho la opinión de su padre.
A1She greatly respects her father's opinion.
Los niños aprenden a respetar el medio ambiente en la escuela.
B1Children learn to respect the environment in school.
💡 Grammar Points
Direct Object Use
In Spanish, the verb 'respetar' almost always takes a direct object (the person or thing being respected). If the object is a person, use the 'personal a': 'Respeto a mi jefe' (I respect my boss).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Respetar' and 'Mirar'
Mistake: "No debes mirar a los ancianos."
Correction: No debes faltar el respeto a los ancianos. ('Mirar' means 'to look at'; 'respetar' is about showing regard.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Action
While 'respeto' is the noun (respect), 'respetar' is the action. Think of it as 'to act respectfully toward' someone.
To abide by rules or boundaries is to respect (respetar) them.
respetar(Verb)
to abide by
?rules, laws, or boundaries
,to observe
?to follow a law or tradition
to keep to
?a schedule or promise
📝 In Action
Todos los conductores deben respetar los límites de velocidad.
B1All drivers must abide by the speed limits.
Es importante respetar el horario de silencio en el hotel.
B2It is important to observe the quiet hours in the hotel.
El contrato obliga a respetar los términos de la entrega.
C1The contract requires adhering to the delivery terms.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Respetar' with Boundaries
When talking about physical boundaries or personal space, 'respetar' is the correct verb: 'Necesitas respetar mi espacio personal' (You need to respect my personal space).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Obedecer' for Rules
Mistake: "Debemos obedecer las reglas de tránsito."
Correction: Debemos respetar las reglas de tránsito. ('Obedecer' is usually used for people; 'respetar' is often preferred for rules and limits.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
In official documents or warnings, 'respetar' is the standard way to express the requirement to follow specific regulations.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: respetar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'respetar' in the sense of 'following a rule' rather than 'showing deference'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'respetar' different from 'obedecer' (to obey)?
'Respetar' is broader, focusing on showing high regard, valuing something, or keeping a boundary (like respecting the law). 'Obedecer' is specifically about following orders or complying with a person's authority (like obeying your parents). You 'respetas' a rule, but you usually 'obedeces' a person.
Is 'respetar' a regular verb?
Yes, 'respetar' is a completely regular -AR verb. Once you know how to conjugate basic -AR verbs (like 'hablar' or 'cantar'), you can conjugate 'respetar' perfectly in every tense.