antworten
answer
Etwas sagen oder schreiben, wenn jemand eine Frage stellt oder etwas wissen will.
Definition & meaning
The verb antworten is a regular German verb that means "to answer" or "to reply". It is used to indicate that someone is providing a response to a question, a statement, or a message.
- To provide a response: To give an answer to someone who has asked a question. (e.g., "Ich antworte dir später." – "I will answer you later.")
- To react: In a broader sense, it can also describe reacting to an action or a situation.
Grammar & Word origin
Grammar:
- Verb type: Weak verb (regular).
- Conjugation: The verb uses the auxiliary verb "haben".
- Dative object: It is important to note that the person being answered is typically placed in the Dative case (e.g., "Ich antworte ihm").
- Principal parts: antworten – antwortete – hat geantwortet.
Word origin: The word is derived from the Old High German "antwurti", which is composed of "ant-" (against/back) and "wort" (word). Thus, the literal meaning is "to give a word back".
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- erwidern (to retort or reply)
- reagieren (to react)
- bescheiden (to inform/answer)
- zurückschreiben (to write back)
Antonyms:
Make “antworten” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Ich antworte auf deine Frage.verb
I am answering your question.
Sie antworten direkt und präzise.verb
They answer directly and precisely.
Er antwortet schnell und präzise.verb
He answers quickly and precisely.
Wir sollten auf die Frage antworten.verb
We should answer the question.
Keep exploring German
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad