How to Say "deferential" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “deferential” is “respetuoso” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Juan es un niño muy respetuoso con sus abuelos.
Juan is a very respectful boy with his grandparents.
Es importante ser respetuoso con el medio ambiente.
It is important to be respectful of the environment.
Todos guardaron un silencio respetuoso durante el discurso.
Everyone kept a respectful silence during the speech.
Matching the Ending
Since this word describes a person or thing, the ending changes. Use 'respetuoso' for a man, 'respetuosa' for a woman, and add an 's' if there is more than one person.
Connecting to the Object
When you want to say who you are being respectful toward, use the word 'con' (with). For example: 'Soy respetuoso con mis padres' (I am respectful with/toward my parents).
Using the wrong connector
Mistake: “Soy respetuoso de mi profesor.”
Correction: Soy respetuoso con mi profesor. Use 'con' when talking about people; 'de' is usually reserved for laws or rules.
Confusing with 'Respetable'
Mistake: “Él es un hombre muy respetuoso.”
Correction: This is correct if he shows respect to others. If you mean he *deserves* respect because of his reputation, use 'respetable'.
Related Translations
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