How to Say "to deserve" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to deserve” is “merecer” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Te mereces un descanso después de tanto trabajo.
You deserve a rest after so much work.
Ellos no merecen ser tratados así.
They don't deserve to be treated like that.
Su dedicación merece el mayor de los respetos.
Her dedication merits the greatest respect.
The 'Z' Change
When talking about yourself in the present ('yo'), the word changes its spelling to 'merezco'. This happens to many verbs ending in -ecer to keep the sound consistent.
Reflexive Use
You will often see this as 'merecerse'. Using the reflexive 'se' form makes it sound more personal or emphasizes that the reward/punishment belongs specifically to that person.
Deserving something vs. Worth
Mistake: “No meresco.”
Correction: No merezco. Always remember the 'z' in the first person present form.
Missing the Object
Mistake: “Espero merecer.”
Correction: Espero merecerlo. In Spanish, you usually need to say WHAT you deserve by adding 'lo' or naming the thing.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.