Responder: to answer, to reply
Pronunciation: rehs-pohn-DEHR (stress the capital letters)
Responder means “to answer, to reply” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to answer, to reply
- How to say it: rehs-pohn-DEHR
- Present: yo respondo, tú respondes
- Level: Elementary (A2)
What “responder” means and how to use it
Responder means “to answer” or “to reply” to a question, message, or call.
How to conjugate “responder”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | respondo | I |
| tú | respondes | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | responde | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | respondemos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | responden | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo respondí, él respondió | I / he or she |
| Past participle | respondido | used with haber |
Examples with audio
- Respondo todos los mensajes.I answer all the messages.
- ¿Puedes responder a mi pregunta?Can you answer my question?
- Ella no respondió el teléfono.She did not answer the phone.
Usage tip
Responder and contestar mean the same in most contexts. You can say “responder a una pregunta” or “contestar una pregunta.”
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to answer, to reply” in Spanish?
“to answer, to reply” in Spanish is “responder.” It is pronounced rehs-pohn-DEHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “responder”?
Say rehs-pohn-DEHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “responder”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “respondí” and “él” is “respondió.” The past participle is “respondido.”
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