reclaman

Reclaman is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Spanish verb reclamar. It is used when the subject performing the action is they or you all (in regions where the ustedes form is standard): they claim, they demand, or they complain. The related forms include reclamo (I claim or claim), reclamas (you claim), reclama (he/she/it claims or you claim, formal), and reclamamos (we claim).

Etymology and related forms: Reclamar comes from Latin reclamare, from re- (again, back) and clamare (to cry out, shout). Over time, the sense broadened from shouting or calling out to include demanding, requesting, or making a formal claim. The noun reclamación is used for a claim, complaint, or grievance, while reclamo can refer to a claim, a lure or bait, or a marketing claim.

Senses and usage: In contemporary Spanish, reclamar primarily means to demand or to claim something that is due, such as rights, compensation, or remedies. It is also used for filing complaints or formal claims, as in presentar una reclamación. Another common sense is to claim or retrieve belongings, as in reclamar el equipaje at an airport. The verb can also appear in contexts of dissatisfaction or protest: “Los ciudadanos reclaman mejoras en el servicio.” The form reclaman appears across media and formal writing when describing multiple subjects making a claim or demand.

See also: Reclamar and its related noun reclamación, as well as the noun reclamo for “claim,” “lure,” or “advertising claim.” The verb shares cognates in other Romance languages, such as reclamar in Portuguese and French réclam­er.