respetaron

Respetaron is the third-person plural form of the Spanish verb respetar in the pretérito perfecto simple (simple past). It means “they respected” or “they showed respect,” and is used to describe actions completed in the past in which subjects complied with people, rules, or norms.

Grammar and related forms: Respectar is a regular verb in its preterite. The full set of simple past forms is respeté, respetaste, respetó, respetamos, respetasteis, respetaron. The form respetaron specifically indicates that multiple subjects performed the action in the past.

Etymology: Respectar comes from the Latin respectare, from respectus meaning regard or consideration. The noun respetó or respeto is related, forming a family of terms around regard, consideration, and compliance.

Usage notes: Respetaron can describe honoring or showing consideration for others, as well as complying with laws, rules, property, or decisions. It is commonly used in narrative and reporting to indicate that actions were carried out with respect or compliance in the past. The verb contrasts with imperfect forms like respetaban (they were respecting) or other tenses such as respetaron as a completed past action.

Examples: Los alumnos respetaron las normas. El público respetó la decisión de la comisión. Los vecinos respetaron el descanso de la calle.

Regional usage: The form is widely used across Spanish-speaking countries, including Spain and Latin America. Synonyms in some contexts include acatar, obedecer, or cumplir, depending on nuance.