How to Say "you deserve" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “you deserve” is “mereces” — B1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
¡Mereces todo lo bueno que te pase!
You deserve all the good things that happen to you!
¿De verdad crees que mereces ese ascenso?
Do you really believe you deserve that promotion?
Si cumples con tu trabajo, mereces un aumento de sueldo.
If you fulfill your job duties, you deserve a salary increase.
The Special 'zc' Change
The verb 'merecer' is regular in most forms, but the 'yo' form (I) and all forms in the special 'wish/doubt' mood (subjunctive) change the 'c' to 'zc'. Remember: yo merezco, tú mereces.
Using 'merecer' with Nouns
In Spanish, you often use 'merecer' directly with a noun (e.g., mereces un premio). You do not need an extra preposition like 'of' or 'for' as in English.
Forgetting the 'z'
Mistake: “Yo mereco”
Correction: Yo merezco. The letter 'c' must change to 'zc' whenever it comes before the vowels 'a' or 'o' to maintain the correct sound.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.