How to Say "they deserve" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “they deserve” is “merecen” — B1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Ellos merecen un descanso después de tanto trabajo.
They deserve a break after so much work.
Ustedes merecen todos los honores por su valentía.
You all deserve all the honors for your bravery.
Los estudiantes que se esforzaron merecen las mejores notas.
The students who put in the effort deserve the best grades.
The 'zc' Irregularity
The base verb 'merecer' is slightly irregular. When the 'c' would be followed by an 'o' or 'a' (like in the 'yo' form or the special subjunctive forms), it changes to 'zc' (merezco, merezca). This keeps the 'th' or 's' sound consistent.
Meaning of 'merecen'
'Merecen' is the 'they' or 'you all' form (plural) in the present tense. It describes something they are currently worthy of or entitled to.
Forgetting the 'z'
Mistake: “Ellos merecen que les des algo.”
Correction: This is actually correct! The mistake is usually in the 'yo' form (saying 'mereco' instead of 'merezco'). The 'ellos' form 'merecen' is regular based on the stem.
Related Translations
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