Inklingo

How to Say "to merit" in Spanish

English → Spanish

merecer

meh-reh-SEHRmeɾeˈθer

verbA2formal
Use 'merecer' when talking about deserving something positive, like praise, a reward, or a break, as a result of your actions or qualities.
A smiling student receiving a gold medal for their hard work.

Examples

El equipo merece una medalla por su esfuerzo.

The team deserves a medal for its effort.

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.

valer

bah-LEHRbaˈler

verbA1informal
Use 'valer' primarily in the sense of 'to be worth' or 'to cost', often when inquiring about the price or value of an item.
A shiny gold coin sitting next to a pile of sparkling jewels.

Examples

¿Cuánto vale este libro?

How much is this book worth? / How much does this book cost?

¿Cuánto vale esta camiseta?

How much does this t-shirt cost?

Ese anillo vale una fortuna.

That ring is worth a fortune.

The 'G' in the 'I' form

When talking about yourself (yo), the verb changes from 'val-' to 'valgo.' This only happens in the present 'I' form.

Future and Conditional Spelling

In the future and conditional forms, the 'e' drops out and is replaced by a 'd', so it becomes 'valdré' instead of 'valeré'.

Saying 'valeré' for the future

Mistake: “Yo valeré mucho.”

Correction: Yo valdré mucho. (Remember the 'd' in the future stem!)

Confusing 'merecer' and 'valer'

Learners often confuse 'merecer' and 'valer' because both can imply worth. Remember that 'merecer' is about deserving recognition or reward for actions, while 'valer' is typically about monetary value or general worth/usefulness.

Related Translations

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