respetad

Respetad is the second-person plural imperative form of the Spanish verb respetar, meaning “to respect.” It is used to instruct or urge a group of people (vosotros) to show respect toward someone or something, and it is most common in Spain.

Morphology and usage notes: Respectar becomes respetad in the vosotros imperative. This form is distinct from the ustedes form, which in most of Latin America uses respeten and in Spain would be respeten in formal contexts. The imperative respetad is typically found in direct address, commands, or exhortations, such as “Respetad las normas” or “Respetad a los demás.” The word respetado, with -ado, is the past participle meaning “respected,” a different grammatical function from respetad.

Regional and stylistic considerations: In informal spoken language across Spanish-speaking regions outside Spain, many speakers prefer ustedes forms (respeten) to address groups, so respetad may feel archaic or confined to certain dialects or formal historical contexts. In religious, ceremonial, or scripted text, respectful or traditional registers might also employ respetad.

Etymology: Respetar derives from Latin respectāre, from respectus meaning “a regard, reverence.” Its sense expanded from “to regard with consideration” to “to honor or comply with norms, rules, or other people.”

See also: respetar, respeto, respeto (noun), respeto (verb forms).