How would you like to use PONS.com?

Already PONS Pur or PONS Translate Pro subscriber?

PONS with ads

Go to PONS.com as usual with ad tracking and advertisements

You can find details of tracking in Information about data protection and under Privacy settings.

PONS Pur

without advertising by third parties

without ad tracking

Subscribe now

If you already have a user account for PONS.com, then you can subscribe to PONS Pur .

We process your data to deliver content or advertisements and measure the delivery of such content or advertisements to extract insights about our website. We share this information with our partners on the basis of consent and legitimate interest. You may exercise your right to consent or object to a legitimate interest, based on a specific purpose below or at a partner level in the link under each purpose. These choices will be signaled to our vendors participating in the Transparency and Consent Framework.

Cookies, device or similar online identifiers (e.g. login-based identifiers, randomly assigned identifiers, network based identifiers) together with other information (e.g. browser type and information, language, screen size, supported technologies etc.) can be stored or read on your device to recognise it each time it connects to an app or to a website, for one or several of the purposes presented here.

Advertising and content can be personalised based on your profile. Your activity on this service can be used to build or improve a profile about you for personalised advertising and content. Advertising and content performance can be measured. Reports can be generated based on your activity and those of others. Your activity on this service can help develop and improve products and services.

Legal noticeData protectionPrivacy settings
CD-ROM
Respuestas

Oxford Spanish Dictionary

English
English
Spanish
Spanish

I. answer [Am ˈænsər, Brit ˈɑːnsə] N

1.1. answer (reply):

answer
respuesta f
answer
contestación f
what was their answer?
¿qué respondieron or contestaron?
what was their answer?
¿cuál fue su respuesta or contestación?
there's no answer (to doorbell, phone)
no contestan
answer to sth to question/letter/accusation
respuesta a algo
in answer to your letter
en relación con or con relación a su carta
in answer to your question
para contestar tu pregunta
in answer to your question
en repuesta a tu pregunta
I can't get an answer out of him
no consigo que me dé una respuesta or contestación
by way of (an) answer
como toda or por toda respuesta
he's got an answer for everything!
¡tiene una respuesta para todo!
the answer to a maiden's prayer hum
un príncipe azul
to be the answer to sb's prayers
llegar como caído del cielo
to know all the answers inf
saberlo todo
you think you know all the answers, don't you?
¿tú qué te crees? ¿que lo sabes todo?

1.2. answer (response):

answer (to sth) her answer to his rudeness was to ignore it
respondió a su grosería ignorándola
Britain's answer to Elvis Presley
el Elvis Presley británico

1.3. answer (plea) LAW:

answer
contestación f

2.1. answer (in exam, test, quiz):

answer
respuesta f
the answer is 210
la respuesta or solución es 210

2.2. answer (solution):

answer
solución f
violence is not the answer
la violencia no es la solución
there's only one answer: we'll have to sell the car
solo tenemos una solución: vender el coche
answer to sth
solución f de algo
the answer to all their problems
la solución de todos sus problemas

II. answer [Am ˈænsər, Brit ˈɑːnsə] VB trans

1.1. answer (reply to):

answer person/letter
contestar
answer your father when he's speaking to you!
¡contéstale a tu padre cuando te habla!
we must answer their letter
tenemos que contestar (a) su carta
I can't answer your question
no puedo contestar (a) su pregunta
if they ask me where you are, what shall I answer?
si me preguntan dónde estás, ¿qué contesto?
because it's too far, she answered
—porque está muy lejos —contestó or respondió

1.2. answer telephone:

answer
contestar
answer
atender LatAm
answer
coger Spain
will you answer the door?
¿vas tú (a abrir)?

1.3. answer critic/criticism:

answer
responder a

2.1. answer need:

answer
satisfacer
their prayers were answered
el cielo escuchó sus plegarias

2.2. answer (fit):

to answer (to) a description
responder a una descripción
he saw a woman answering (to) that description
vio a una mujer que respondía a esa descripción

2.3. answer NAUT:

to answer the helm
obedecer al timón

III. answer [Am ˈænsər, Brit ˈɑːnsə] VB intr

answer
contestar
answer
responder
I wrote and they answered almost immediately
escribí y me contestaron casi inmediatamente
I phoned but no one answered
llamé por teléfono pero no contestaron
if the doorbell rings, don't answer
si tocan el timbre, no contestes/abras

answer to VB [Am ˈænsər -, Brit ˈɑːnsə -] (v + prep + o)

1. answer to (be accountable):

answer to
responder ante
to answer to sb for sth
responder ante alguien de algo

2. answer to dog/cat:

it answers to the name of Bob
responde al nombre de Bob

3. answer to → answer

4. answer to (obey, respond to):

answer to movement/control
responder a

I. answer [Am ˈænsər, Brit ˈɑːnsə] N

1.1. answer (reply):

answer
respuesta f
answer
contestación f
what was their answer?
¿qué respondieron or contestaron?
what was their answer?
¿cuál fue su respuesta or contestación?
there's no answer (to doorbell, phone)
no contestan
answer to sth to question/letter/accusation
respuesta a algo
in answer to your letter
en relación con or con relación a su carta
in answer to your question
para contestar tu pregunta
in answer to your question
en repuesta a tu pregunta
I can't get an answer out of him
no consigo que me dé una respuesta or contestación
by way of (an) answer
como toda or por toda respuesta
he's got an answer for everything!
¡tiene una respuesta para todo!
the answer to a maiden's prayer hum
un príncipe azul
to be the answer to sb's prayers
llegar como caído del cielo
to know all the answers inf
saberlo todo
you think you know all the answers, don't you?
¿tú qué te crees? ¿que lo sabes todo?

1.2. answer (response):

answer (to sth) her answer to his rudeness was to ignore it
respondió a su grosería ignorándola
Britain's answer to Elvis Presley
el Elvis Presley británico

1.3. answer (plea) LAW:

answer
contestación f

2.1. answer (in exam, test, quiz):

answer
respuesta f
the answer is 210
la respuesta or solución es 210

2.2. answer (solution):

answer
solución f
violence is not the answer
la violencia no es la solución
there's only one answer: we'll have to sell the car
solo tenemos una solución: vender el coche
answer to sth
solución f de algo
the answer to all their problems
la solución de todos sus problemas

II. answer [Am ˈænsər, Brit ˈɑːnsə] VB trans

1.1. answer (reply to):

answer person/letter
contestar
answer your father when he's speaking to you!
¡contéstale a tu padre cuando te habla!
we must answer their letter
tenemos que contestar (a) su carta
I can't answer your question
no puedo contestar (a) su pregunta
if they ask me where you are, what shall I answer?
si me preguntan dónde estás, ¿qué contesto?
because it's too far, she answered
—porque está muy lejos —contestó or respondió

1.2. answer telephone:

answer
contestar
answer
atender LatAm
answer
coger Spain
will you answer the door?
¿vas tú (a abrir)?

1.3. answer critic/criticism:

answer
responder a

2.1. answer need:

answer
satisfacer
their prayers were answered
el cielo escuchó sus plegarias

2.2. answer (fit):

to answer (to) a description
responder a una descripción
he saw a woman answering (to) that description
vio a una mujer que respondía a esa descripción

2.3. answer NAUT:

to answer the helm
obedecer al timón

III. answer [Am ˈænsər, Brit ˈɑːnsə] VB intr

answer
contestar
answer
responder
I wrote and they answered almost immediately
escribí y me contestaron casi inmediatamente
I phoned but no one answered
llamé por teléfono pero no contestaron
if the doorbell rings, don't answer
si tocan el timbre, no contestes/abras

answer for VB [Am ˈænsər -, Brit ˈɑːnsə -] (v + prep + o)

1. answer for (accept responsibility for):

answer for conduct/consequences
responder de
he'll have to answer for what he did
va a tener que responder de or dar cuentas de lo que hizo
his parents have a lot to answer for
sus padres tienen mucha culpa

2. answer for (guarantee):

answer for truth/integrity
garantizar
answer for truth/integrity
responder de
answer for person
responder por
I'll answer for him
yo respondo por él

3. answer for (reply on behalf of):

answer for others/colleagues
responder por
answer for others/colleagues
contestar por
I can't answer for everyone, but …
no puedo responder or contestar por todo el mundo, pero …
let him answer for himself
deja que conteste él mismo

I. answer back VB [Am ˈænsər -, Brit ˈɑːnsə -] (v + adv)

1. answer back (rudely):

answer back children/subordinate:
contestar
don't answer back!
¡no contestes!

2. answer back (defend oneself):

answer back
responder a las acusaciones
answer back
responder a sus críticos

II. answer back VB [Am ˈænsər -, Brit ˈɑːnsə -] (v + o + adv)

her son answered her back
su hijo le contestó mal or de mala manera

answer paper N

answer paper
hoja f de respuestas (en un examen)
Carmen answers Don José teasingly
Carmen responde insinuante or con coquetería a Don José
her answers were uncannily accurate
respondió con una precisión asombrosa
a series of quick-fire questions and answers
una ráfaga de preguntas y respuestas
Spanish
Spanish
English
English
respondió con monosílabos
she gave one-word answers
contesta
answer

in the PONS Dictionary

English
English
Spanish
Spanish

I. answer [ˈɑ:nsəʳ, Am ˈæ:nsɚ] N

1. answer (reply):

answer
respuesta f
answer
contestación f
to have an answer for everything
tener respuesta para todo
in answer to your question
como respuesta a tu pregunta
I called but there was no answer
llamé pero no contestaron
the short answer is ‘no’
en una palabra: no

2. answer (solution):

answer
solución f

3. answer LAW:

answer
contestación f

4. answer (equivalent):

to be the French answer to the Beatles
ser el equivalente francés de los Beatles

II. answer [ˈɑ:nsəʳ, Am ˈæ:nsɚ] VB trans

1. answer (respond to):

answer
contestar a
to answer the telephone
contestar al teléfono
to answer the door
abrir la puerta

2. answer (fit, suit):

answer description
responder a
answer need
satisfacer
answer prayers
escuchar

III. answer [ˈɑ:nsəʳ, Am ˈæ:nsɚ] VB intr

answer
contestar
answer
responder

answer to VB trans

1. answer to (obey):

answer to
obedecer a

2. answer to (fit):

answer to description
corresponder a

3. answer to (be named):

to answer to the name of Billy
responder al nombre de Billy

answer back VB intr

answer back
contestar
answer back
replicar
don't answer back!
¡no repliques!

answer for VB trans

answer for action, situation
responder de
answer for person
responder por
to have a lot to answer for
tener mucha culpa
the answers disagree
las respuestas no concuerdan
studied answer
pensado, -a
Spanish
Spanish
English
English
contestar
to answer
contestar
to answer
contestar
to answer back
contestación
answer
el perro responde al nombre de...
the dog answers to the name of ...
responder por algo
to answer for sth
responder con monosílabos
to answer in monosyllables
in the PONS Dictionary
English
English
Spanish
Spanish

I. answer [ˈæn·sər] N

1. answer (reply):

answer
respuesta f
answer
contestación f
in answer to your question
como respuesta a tu pregunta
I called but there was no answer
llamé pero no contestaron
the short answer is ‘noʼ
en una palabra: no

2. answer (solution):

answer
solución f

3. answer LAW:

answer
contestación f

4. answer (equivalent):

to be the French answer to the Beatles
ser el equivalente francés de los Beatles

II. answer [ˈæn·sər] VB trans

1. answer (respond to):

answer
contestar a
to answer the telephone
contestar al teléfono
to answer the door
abrir la puerta

2. answer (fit, suit):

answer description
responder a
answer need
satisfacer
answer prayers
escuchar

III. answer [ˈæn·sər] VB intr

answer
contestar
answer
responder

answer back VB intr

answer back
contestar
answer back
replicar
don't answer back!
¡no repliques!

answer for VB trans

answer for action, situation
responder de
answer for person
responder por
to answer for oneself
responder por sí mismo
to have a lot to answer for
tener mucha culpa

answer to VB trans

1. answer to (obey):

answer to
obedecer a

2. answer to (fit):

answer to description
corresponder a

3. answer to (be named):

to answer to the name of Billy
responder al nombre de Billy
the answers disagree
las respuestas no concuerdan
studied answer
pensado, -a
Spanish
Spanish
English
English
contestación
answer
el perro responde al nombre de...
the dog answers to the name of...
responder por algo
to answer for sth
contestar
to answer
contestar
to answer
contestar (replicar)
to answer back
respuesta afirmativa
positive answer
Present
Ianswer
youanswer
he/she/itanswers
weanswer
youanswer
theyanswer
Past
Ianswered
youanswered
he/she/itanswered
weanswered
youanswered
theyanswered
Present Perfect
Ihaveanswered
youhaveanswered
he/she/ithasanswered
wehaveanswered
youhaveanswered
theyhaveanswered
Past Perfect
Ihadanswered
youhadanswered
he/she/ithadanswered
wehadanswered
youhadanswered
theyhadanswered
See further verb tables

PONS OpenDict

Would you like to add a word, a phrase or a translation?

We'd love you to send us a new entry for PONS OpenDict. The submitted suggestions are reviewed by the PONS editorial team and incorporated into the results accordingly.

Add entry

Examples from the PONS Dictionary (editorially verified)

to know all the answers
tener todas las respuestas
to not take no for an answer
no admitir un no por respuesta
I called but there was no answer
llamé pero no contestaron
to have a lot to answer for
tener mucha culpa
to answer to the name of Billy
responder al nombre de Billy
the answers disagree
las respuestas no concuerdan
el perro responde al nombre de...
the dog answers to the name of ...
tardar en responder
to take a long time to answer
tardaron tres semanas en contestar
it took them three weeks to answer
no acerté a encontrar la respuesta
I didn't manage to find the answer

Monolingual examples (not verified by PONS Editors)

This period of quick-fire uncertainty was also characterised by a run of six different stage winners on the bounce.
au.eurosport.com
The visitors responded with two quick-fire tries to take a 10-6 lead midway through the first half.
www.hulldailymail.co.uk
Four contestants compete to answer quick-fire general knowledge questions to win cash and prizes.
en.wikipedia.org
A compact schedule, five quick-fire rounds in six weeks, and a competitive field leaves little margin for error.
www.independent.ie
The dialogue delivery is quick-fire, and the humour is universal.
gadgets.ndtv.com

Browse the dictionary