respectivas

Respectivas is a feminine plural form of the adjective respectivo, used in Spanish and Portuguese to indicate that something pertains to or corresponds with each member of a group. It functions to link a common element to multiple items, emphasizing the individual association of each item within a set.

Morphology and usage

In both languages, respectivo agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: respectivo (masculine singular), respectiva (feminine singular), respectivos (masculine plural), and respectivas (feminine plural). It is commonly used before or after the noun, often following a possessive such as sus or sus respectivas. Examples: “Cada participante presentó su respectiva propuesta.” “Las ciudades y las regiones tienen sus respectivas autoridades.” It can replace the repeated noun in a list: “Las páginas A y B contienen sus respectivas notas.”

Etymology

Respectivas derives from respectivus in Latin, formed from respectus meaning regard or consideration, and the Latin suffixes that produce adjectives indicating relation or pertaining to.

Notes

The term is frequently found in formal writing and technical language, especially in organization, administration, and academic contexts. In English, the closest equivalent is respective, but respectivas as a form exists only in Spanish and Portuguese. Use of respectivas clarifies which item belongs to which subject in multi-item references, avoiding repetition and enhancing precision.