Inklingo

How to Say "respect" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “respect” is “respeto” — use 'respeto' when you mean a general feeling of deep admiration or high regard for someone or something, often due to their qualities, achievements, or position.

English → Spanish

respeto

rres-PEH-tohreˈspeto

nounA2general
Use 'respeto' when you mean a general feeling of deep admiration or high regard for someone or something, often due to their qualities, achievements, or position.
A storybook illustration showing a young child respectfully offering a single red flower to an elderly woman, symbolizing admiration and high regard.

Examples

Tengo un gran respeto por mis maestros.

I have great respect for my teachers.

Es importante mostrar respeto a las personas mayores.

It's important to show respect to elderly people.

Actuó con respeto y profesionalismo.

He acted with respect and professionalism.

Using 'por' or 'a'

You can say you have respect 'por' (for) or 'a' (to) someone. Both are common and mean the same thing. 'Tengo respeto por mi jefe' and 'Tengo respeto a mi jefe' are both correct.

Forgetting the Gender

Mistake: “La respeto que siento es grande.”

Correction: 'Respeto' is a masculine word, so you should always use 'el'. The correct way is: 'El respeto que siento es grande.'

admiración

nounB1general
Choose 'admiración' when the English 'respect' specifically implies looking up to someone with strong approval and esteem for their personal qualities or actions.

Examples

Siento mucha admiración por mi abuela.

I have a lot of admiration for my grandmother.

consideración

nounB1general
Use 'consideración' when 'respect' in English refers to thoughtfulness and politeness towards others, or taking their feelings and needs into account.

Examples

Ten un poco de consideración con tus vecinos y no hagas ruido.

Have a little consideration for your neighbors and don't make noise.

tolerancia

toh-leh-rahn-syahtoleˈɾansja

nounA2general
Opt for 'tolerancia' when 'respect' in English means accepting and valuing differences in opinions, beliefs, or practices, especially when they differ from your own.
A group of diverse people sitting together in a circle, smiling and sharing a meal.

Examples

La tolerancia es importante para vivir en paz.

Tolerance is important for living in peace.

Promovemos la tolerancia religiosa en nuestra comunidad.

We promote religious tolerance in our community.

Es necesario fomentar una cultura de tolerancia y respeto mutuo.

It is necessary to foster a culture of tolerance and mutual respect.

Always Feminine

Since it ends in '-ancia', it is always a feminine word. You should always use 'la' or 'una' with it.

Using 'hacia'

When you want to say you have tolerance 'for' someone or something, Spanish usually uses the word 'hacia' (towards).

Don't use 'para'

Mistake: “Tengo mucha tolerancia para sus ideas.”

Correction: Tengo mucha tolerancia hacia sus ideas. While 'para' is common in English, 'hacia' (towards) sounds more natural in Spanish.

Respeto vs. Consideración

The most common mistake is using 'respeto' when you actually mean being thoughtful or polite towards someone. Remember, 'respeto' is about deep regard or admiration, while 'consideración' is about showing kindness and thinking of others' feelings.

Related Translations

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