merecer

Merecer is a Spanish verb meaning to deserve or to merit. It is a transitive verb that requires a direct object and can express moral worth, entitlement, or the consequences one earns. The phrase merecer la pena is common, meaning to be worth it.

Conjugation and form: Merecer is a regular -cer verb with the usual stem changes in the present indicative: yo merezco; tú mereces; él/ella merece; nosotros merecemos; vosotros merecéis; ellos/ellas merecen. Other tenses follow regular -er conjugation patterns with orthographic changes: preterite merecí, mereciste, mereció, merecimos, merecisteis, merecieron; imperfect merecía, merecías, merecía, merecíamos, merecisteis, merecían. Subjunctive present: merezca, merezcas, merezca, merezcamos, merezcáis, merezcan. Gerund: mereciendo; past participle: merecido. The reflexive form merecerse appears in phrases like se merece un descanso (one deserves a rest).

Usage: To express that someone is worthy of something: “Ella merece un ascenso” (She deserves a promotion). “No merece ese trato” (He does not deserve that treatment). “Merecer la pena” is used to indicate something is worthwhile: “Este libro merece la pena leerlo.” The phrase se merece is common in social or moral contexts, as in “se merece reconocimiento.”

Etymology and related terms: Merecer comes from Latin merēri “to deserve, earn,” related to meritus. Related concepts in Spanish include mérito (merit) and phrases using valer or deber to express value or obligation.

See also: Deber (to should/owe), Valer (to be worth), Merito (merit).