contestar
/kontesˈtaɾ/
To answer in Spanish is contestar.
Contestar means to give a spoken or written response to a question or a request. It is the standard verb used for answering a telephone call or a doorbell. The noun form derived from this verb is contestación, which means an answer or a response.
Which one should you use?
While contestar and responder are often interchangeable, responder can sound slightly more formal or imply a more substantive response than contestar.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the verb atender can also be used to indicate to answer.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are answering a specific person or a question, contestar is often used with the preposition a, such as in contestar a la pregunta.
How do you pronounce it?
/kontesˈtaɾ/
Did you know?
- While contestar usually means 'to answer', it can also mean 'to talk back' or 'to be sassy' when used to describe a child's behavior toward a parent.
- The verb contestar traces its roots back to the Latin contestārī, which originally meant 'to call to witness' in a legal or formal context.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, if you contestaste rudely to an elder, you might be told you have 'no education', regardless of your actual schooling.
Examples in context
- Tengo que contestar el teléfono.I have to answer the phone.This sentence shows how to use contestar when talking about the phone.Tatoeba #1745978 by marcelostockle, translation #1744883 by Amastan
- ¿Qué manera es esa de contestar?Is that the way to answer?This sentence uses contestar to question a person's manner of answering.Tatoeba #2267346 by cueyayotl, translation #2267345 by _undertoad
- Ella puede contestar a tu pregunta.She is able to answer your question.This sentence shows how to use contestar when referring to a question.Tatoeba #499780 by Shishir, translation #489422 by adjusting
- ¿Puede responder a mi pregunta, por favor?Can you answer my question, please?
- El profesor contestó a todas las preguntas de los estudiantes.The professor answered all the students' questions.
- ¡Contesta el teléfono!Answer the phone!
- María le contestó al profesor sin pensar.María answered the professor without thinking.
- 39 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are discussing a school assignment.
- MateoElena, ¿puedes contestar este correo hoy?Elena, can you answer this email today?
- ElenaSí, voy a contestar ahora mismo.Yes, I am going to answer right now.
- MateoGracias por ayudarme con eso.Thanks for helping me with that.
- ElenaDe nada, Mateo.You're welcome, Mateo.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry contestar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries contestar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
