réponse
/ʁe.pɔ̃s/feminine
The English word "answer" is translated into French as réponse.
The noun réponse refers to a response. If you want to use the verb form meaning "to answer" or "to respond", you would use répondre.
Meaning: response (noun)
Which one should you use?
While réponse is the noun for "answer", répondre is the corresponding verb meaning "to answer" or "to respond".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Francophone countries, particularly in Canada, solution is used instead of réponse to mean answer. In certain parts of West Africa, rebondir is sometimes used to mean to answer.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun 'réponse' is a feminine noun, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it, such as la réponse or une bonne réponse.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁe.pɔ̃s/ (2 syllables)
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often forget that the verb répondre requires the preposition à when answering a question or a person (e.g., répondre à la question).
Did you know?
- In certain West African Francophone regions, the verb rebondir, which literally means 'to bounce back', is used colloquially to mean 'to answer' or 'to respond' to someone.
- In music, the term réponse refers to the part of a fugue or a canon where a second voice echoes the first.
- The word réponse is related to the English word 'respond', as both trace their roots back to the Latin word respōnsum.
Examples in context
- La réponse est oui.The answer is yes.This sentence shows how to state that the answer is yes using réponse.Tatoeba #6019663 by sicerabibax, translation #1617180 by Spamster
- La réponse est non.The answer is no.This sentence shows how to state that the answer is no using réponse.Tatoeba #6019665 by sicerabibax, translation #1617182 by Spamster
- Ma réponse est non.My answer is no.This sentence shows how to say "my answer" using réponse.Tatoeba #6459285 by GB3, translation #6459206 by heo598
- Pouvez-vous me donner une réponse, s'il vous plaît?Can you give me an answer, please?
- J'ai apprécié votre riposte lors du débat.I appreciated your answer during the debate.
- Quelle est ta réponse à ma proposition?What is your answer to my proposal?
- J'attends ta réplique avec impatience!I'm eagerly waiting for your answer!
- Peux-tu me donner la solution?Can you give me the answer?
- Madame, avez-vous une réponse à notre proposition?Madam, do you have an answer to our proposal?
- 563 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel are discussing a text message.
- ChloéAs-tu reçu sa réponse ?Did you receive his response?
- GabrielPas encore, j'attends toujours.Not yet, I am still waiting.
- ChloéSa réponse sera sûrement positive.His response will probably be positive.
- GabrielJ'espère que oui, Chloé.I hope so, Chloé.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “answer” translations and entries réponse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries réponse, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
