How to Say "i merit" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “i merit” is “merezco” — B1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Yo merezco un descanso después de este largo día.
I deserve a break after this long day.
No sé si merezco tanta felicidad.
I don't know if I deserve so much happiness.
Merezco una explicación por lo que pasó.
I deserve an explanation for what happened.
The 'Yo' Form Irregularity
"Merezco" is the special 'yo' form of the verb merecer. Unlike most verbs, it doesn't end in '-o'; it changes the 'c' to 'zc' before adding the 'o'. This change happens in the present tense (I deserve) and the entire present subjunctive (that I deserve).
Verbs like Merecer
This 'zco' irregularity is common! Other verbs that do this include conocer (conozco), agradecer (agradezco), and obedecer (obedezco). If the verb ends in -cer and the 'c' is preceded by a vowel, watch out for this change.
Forgetting the 'z'
Mistake: “Yo mereco”
Correction: Yo merezco. Spanish uses the 'z' here to keep the pronunciation consistent (like an 's' sound in Latin America, or a 'th' sound in Spain) before the 'o' ending.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.