Meaning and behavior
What does merecer mean?
Merecer means to deserve. VerbyGo classifies it as an irregular -ER verb. It is non-reflexive.
to have sex, used especially when talking about a nubile girl.
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- merecer
- Gerund
- mereciendo
- Past participle
- merecido
Verified irregular pattern
How this verb behaves
Its forms differ from a fully regular -er pattern in the present.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of merecer for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Merecer |
|---|---|
| yo | merezco |
| tú | mereces |
| él / ella / usted | merece |
| nosotros / nosotras | merecemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | merecéis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | merecen |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of merecer is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Merecer |
|---|---|
| yo | merecí |
| tú | mereciste |
| él / ella / usted | mereció |
| nosotros / nosotras | merecimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | merecisteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | merecieron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of merecer, or for background information.
| Subject | Merecer |
|---|---|
| yo | merecía |
| tú | merecías |
| él / ella / usted | merecía |
| nosotros / nosotras | merecíamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | merecíais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | merecían |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of merecer for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Merecer |
|---|---|
| yo | mereceré |
| tú | merecerás |
| él / ella / usted | merecerá |
| nosotros / nosotras | mereceremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | mereceréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | merecerán |
Conjugation guide
Subjunctive forms
Subjunctive forms
Present subjunctive
Use these forms when a current wish, reaction, doubt or another trigger requires the subjunctive.
| Subject | Merecer |
|---|---|
| yo | merezca |
| tú | merezcas |
| él / ella / usted | merezca |
| nosotros / nosotras | merezcamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | merezcáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | merezcan |
Verified context
Examples with merecer
Tom se merecía el castigo.
Tom deserved the punishment.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FREs más de lo que te mereces.
It's more than you deserve.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRA cada cual lo que se merece.
To each his own.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Merecer FAQ
What does merecer mean?
Merecer means to deserve.
Is merecer regular or irregular?
Merecer is a irregular -ER verb.
What is the gerund of merecer?
The gerund of merecer is mereciendo.
What is the past participle of merecer?
The past participle of merecer is merecido.
How is merecer conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is merezco, mereces, merece, merecemos, merecen.
How is merecer conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is merecí, mereciste, mereció, merecimos, merecieron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.