respétalo
/respetalo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "respect it" is translated into Spanish as respétalo.
Which one should you use?
If the thing being respected is a feminine noun, the pronoun changes to 'la', resulting in respétala.
How do you pronounce it?
/respetalo/
Did you know?
- The word respeto shares a root with the English word 'aspect', as both come from the Latin specere, meaning 'to look'. To respect something originally meant to 'look back' or 'look again' at it.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, respect is tied to the concept of respeto, which can imply a social hierarchy or a distance between people that is more rigid than the English concept of 'respect'.
- In Spanish, the verb respetar is used for traffic laws, such as respetar la señal de stop for 'to obey the stop sign'.
Examples in context
- Es un espacio sagrado, respétalo.It is a sacred space, respect it.
- El silencio es importante, respétalo.Silence is important, respect it.
- Es la opinión de ella, respétalo.It is her opinion, respect it.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are talking about a quiet study area in a library.
- LucíaEste es un lugar de estudio, Mateo.This is a study area, Mateo.
- MateoLo siento, no quería hacer ruido.I am sorry, I did not want to make noise.
- LucíaEs el silencio de la biblioteca, respétalo.It is the silence of the library, respect it.
- MateoTienes razón, tendré más cuidado.You are right, I will be more careful.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
