respecte-moi
To say "respect me" in French, you use respecte-moi.
This phrase is used to demand that someone treats you with the consideration and politeness you deserve.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative form of the verb respecte (respect) and the stressed pronoun moi (me).
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are addressing a stranger, a superior or a group of people, use the form respectez-moi instead of respecte-moi.
Did you know?
- While English speakers often think of 'respect' as a feeling of admiration, the French respecter is commonly used for physical boundaries, such as respecter une distance de sécurité to 'keep a safe distance'.
- In formal French etiquette, the concept of 'respect' is often embedded in the use of 'vous' rather than explicitly stated. Directly saying respectez-moi can actually be perceived as a lack of 'savoir-vivre', or the social grace required to navigate polite society without being blunt.
- The word respect in French shares its root with the Latin 'respicere', meaning 'to look back at' or 'to look again'.
Examples in context
- Tu me manques de respect, alors respecte-moi !You are being disrespectful, so respect me!
- Je ne suis pas ton esclave, respecte-moi.I am not your slave, respect me.
- Arrête de parler sur ce ton et respecte-moi.Stop talking in that tone and respect me.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma are having a heated argument in their apartment.
- GabrielTu ne peux pas me parler comme ça !You cannot talk to me like that!
- EmmaMais je ne fais rien de mal.But I am not doing anything wrong.
- GabrielSi, respecte-moi au moins un peu.Yes, at least respect me a little.
- EmmaJe suis désolée, Gabriel.I am sorry, Gabriel.
