respeta a tus mayores
/respeta a tus maʝoɾes/from spelling rules
To say "respect your elders" in Spanish, use respeta a tus mayores.
This phrase is used to tell someone to show politeness and consideration toward people who are older than they are. The phrase tus mayores refers specifically to people older than the subject, rather than tus abuelos (your grandparents).
What does it mean word for word?
The word mayores is the plural form of mayor, which literally means "greater" or "older" in a comparative sense.
Which one should you use?
If you want to express the idea more broadly, such as "show respect towards older people," you can use Muestre respeto hacia las personas mayores.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the 'personal a', which is required in Spanish when the direct object is a person or a group of people.
How do you pronounce it?
/respeta a tus maʝoɾes/
Did you know?
- The word mayores is used for 'elders', but in a legal or official context, people of retirement age are called la tercera edad, which literally means 'the third age'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the respect implied in tus mayores is often shown by using the formal usted rather than tú when addressing them, even if the person is a relative.
- In some Latin American countries, showing respect to 'mayores' involves specific physical gestures, such as bowing the head slightly or standing up when they enter a room.
Examples in context
- Respeta a tus mayores.Respect your elders.This example shows how to use the phrase respeta a tus mayores directly.Tatoeba #1686334 by Shishir, translation #1682918 by Spamster
- Eres joven, pero debes aprender a respetar a tus mayores. Ellos tienen mucho que enseñarte.You are young, but you should learn to respect your elders. They have a lot to teach you.
- En nuestra familia, siempre nos enseñaron a tener respeto por los más viejos. Son nuestra fuente de sabiduría.In our family, we were always taught to have respect for the elderly. They are our source of wisdom.
Example conversation
Sofía is correcting Daniel's rude behavior toward a grandfather.
- SofíaDaniel, no hables así con el abuelo.Daniel, don't talk to grandfather like that.
- DanielNo me importa, él empezó primero.I don't care, he started it first.
- SofíaNo importa quién empezó, respeta a tus mayores.It doesn't matter who started it, respect your elders.
- DanielEstá bien, lo siento.Okay, I'm sorry.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
