respectar
respect
Tratar a una persona, animal, lugar o cosa con cuidado y sin hacer daño ni ofender.
Definition & meaning
Respetar is a Spanish verb meaning to respect someone or something: to treat them with consideration, recognize their rights or worth, or avoid harming or disregarding them.
It can also mean to comply with or observe a rule, agreement, or boundary. In some contexts, it means to leave something unchanged or undisturbed.
Grammar & Word origin
Respetar is a regular -ar verb. It is usually transitive: the person or thing being respected is its direct object. When that object is a specific person, Spanish normally uses the personal a.
The verb comes from Latin respectāre, related to respicere, “to look back at” or “to regard.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms vary by context:
- honrar — to honor; usually emphasizes esteem or formal recognition.
- acatar — to obey or comply with an authority, rule, or decision; more focused on obedience.
- observar — to observe or follow a rule; often used for regulations and customs.
- considerar — to take someone or something into account; less specifically about respect.
Antonyms depend on the meaning:
- despreciar — to despise or regard as having little worth.
- incumplir — to fail to comply with a rule or agreement.
- violar — to violate a law, right, or boundary; stronger than simply not respecting it.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Es importante respetar las opiniones de los demás.verb
It is important to respect the opinions of others.
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