responder
/responˈdeɾ/
To respond in Spanish is to responder. If unsure, use responder. Wiktionary also lists salirle al paso.
Meaning: to say something in return (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| responder | /responˈdeɾ/ |
| salirle al paso | /saliɾle al paso/ (from spelling rules) |
The verb responder means to say something in return. When you are responding to a person, a question or a stimulus, you typically use the preposition a after the verb (responder a).
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular preterite form of responder is respondió (he/she/it responded). The third-person plural present subjunctive form is respondan (they respond).
How do you pronounce it?
/responˈdeɾ/
Did you know?
- The phrase salirle al paso is a figurative way to respond, but it literally means 'to step out to meet someone's pace'. It is often used to describe intercepting or meeting a challenge head-on.
- The verb responder can be used to mean 'to be responsible for' something, such as when a person must responder for their actions in a legal sense.
- While 'respond' is a single word in English, the Spanish word responder shares its roots with the Latin 'respondēre', which meant 'to promise or pledge' before it settled into the meaning of replying.
Examples in context
- No sé qué responder.I don't know how to respond.This sentence uses responder to show a lack of knowledge on how to react.Tatoeba #8371092 by arh, translation #10098034 by DJ_Saidez
- Tom no logra responder.Tom can't respond.This sentence uses responder to describe an inability to react.Tatoeba #4163462 by facunkr, translation #10082893 by espamatics
- No sabía cómo responder.I didn't know how to respond.Tatoeba #4621521 by Shishir, translation #3318871 by Hybrid
- Por favor, responda a esta preguntaPlease respond to this question
- Necesito que usted me conteste lo antes posibleI need you to respond as soon as possible
- Responda, por favor, antes de la fecha límitePlease respond before the deadline
- ¡No te olvides de responder a mi mensaje!Don't forget to respond to my message!
- Contesta el teléfono, por favorAnswer the phone, please
- No puedo creer que no hayas reaccionado a mi chisteI can't believe you didn't respond to my joke
- Responde, por favor, cuando recibas el mensajePlease respond when you receive the message
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are talking on the phone about an email.
- Lucía¿Ya pudiste responder el correo de la oficina?Were you able to respond to the office email yet?
- AlejandroTodavía no, necesito tiempo para responder.Not yet, I need time to respond.
- LucíaÉl espera que le respondas hoy.He expects you to respond to him today.
- AlejandroEstá bien, le voy a responder ahora mismo.Okay, I am going to respond to him right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “respond” translations and entries responder, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries paso, responder, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
