bitte antworten Sie
/ˈbɪtə ˈantvɔʁtn̩ ziː/word by word
The German phrase bitte antworten Sie means please respond.
This phrase is a polite request for someone to provide an answer or a reply. It is commonly used in written correspondence, such as emails or letters, to request a reply.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bitte (please), antworten (to respond/answer) and Sie (you, formal).
Which one should you use?
bitte antworten Sie uses the formal Sie and is appropriate for business correspondence or speaking to strangers. In contrast, if you are addressing a group of people you know well, you would use the informal bitte antwortet and if you are speaking to one person you know well, you would use the informal bitte antworte.
How does it change in a sentence?
When speaking to one person you know well (using du), you should use the informal form bitte antworte instead of bitte antworten Sie. If you are addressing a group of people you know well, the correct informal form is bitte antwortet.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbɪtə ˈantvɔʁtn̩ ziː/
Did you know?
- If you write 'bitte antworten sie' with a lowercase 'sie', you are no longer politely asking one person to respond, but are instead asking a group of women or a group of people to respond.
- The word 'bitte' is actually a shortened version of the phrase 'ich bitte dich' or 'ich bitte Sie', which literally translates to 'I beg you'.
- While bitte antworten Sie is a polite request, Germans often use the more urgent bitte um Antwort, which translates literally as 'asking for an answer'.
Examples in context
- Bitte antworten Sie, sobald es Ihnen möglich ist.Please respond at your earliest convenience.This sentence is useful for requesting a reply as soon as the person is able to do so using bitte antworten Sie.Tatoeba #560888 by al_ex_an_der, translation #268120 by CM
- Guten Tag, Herr Müller. Ich würde mich freuen, wenn Sie auf meine Anfrage bezüglich des Projekts antworten könnten. Bitte antworten Sie bis zum 15. Juli.Good day, Mr. Müller. I would be happy if you could respond to my inquiry regarding the project. Please respond by July 15th.
- Hallo, Frau Wagner. Bitte teilen Sie mir so schnell wie möglich mit, ob Sie an der Konferenz teilnehmen können. Über eine rasche Antwort wäre ich dankbar.Hello, Ms. Wagner. Please let me know as soon as possible whether you can participate in the conference. I would appreciate a quick reply.
- Hey Julia, ich habe dir eine E-Mail geschickt. Kannst du bitte antworten, sobald du Zeit hast?Hey Julia, I sent you an email. Can you please respond as soon as you have time?
- Thomas, kannst du mir sagen, ob du heute Abend zum Geburtstag kommen kannst? Gib mir bitte Bescheid.Thomas, can you tell me if you can come to the birthday party tonight? Please let me know.
- Hallo Lisa, ich habe dir auf WhatsApp eine Nachricht geschickt. Schreib mir bitte zurück, wenn du sie gelesen hast.Hello Lisa, I sent you a message on WhatsApp. Please write back to me when you have read it.
- Bitte antworten Sie auf meine E-Mail.Please respond to my email.
- Wir warten auf Ihre Nachricht, bitte antworten Sie.We are waiting for your message, please respond.
Example conversation
Felix and Julia are discussing a business email.
- FelixJulia, haben Sie meine Nachricht gelesen?Julia, have you read my message?
- JuliaJa, Felix, aber ich bin gerade beschäftigt.Yes, Felix, but I am busy right now.
- FelixDas verstehe ich, aber bitte antworten Sie heute.I understand, but please respond today.
- JuliaIn Ordnung, ich mache das heute Abend.All right, I will do that this evening.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (bitte, antworten, Sie) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Sie, antworten, bitte, sie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
