respeita

Respeita is a Portuguese verb form derived from respeitar, meaning to regard someone with consideration or to show deference. In everyday use, respeita appears as the imperative form used to command or request someone to treat others or a situation with respect. It is a common exclamation in Brazilian Portuguese, where Respeita! can be spoken or written as a direct call for respect. The same root also yields respeita in the indicative mood, as in ele/ela respeita (“he/she respects”).

Etymology and grammar: respeitar comes from Latin respectare, from respectus, related to the idea of regard or regardfulness. In contemporary Portuguese, respeita functions both as a direct imperative (you, informal) and as part of present-tense forms (ele/ela respeita). The term is frequently encountered in informal speech, social media, and popular culture, where it is used to assert boundaries or demand fair treatment.

Usage and cultural context: Beyond its grammatical role, respeita has gained prominence as a cultural shorthand in online discourse and memes. It is often associated with campaigns or expressions that advocate for dignity, gender equality, and social respect, such as phrases like “respeita as mulheres” to emphasize the need for respect toward women. In digital communication, Respeita is frequently deployed to quickly convey a demand for respect or to signal disapproval of disrespectful behavior.

See also: respeitar, respeito, respeitoso, Portuguese imperatives.