contestar
“contestar” means “to answer” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to answer, to reply
Also: to respond
📝 In Action
¿Puedes contestar a mi pregunta, por favor?
A1Can you answer my question, please?
Ella contestó el correo electrónico inmediatamente.
A2She replied to the email immediately.
Siempre contesta con mucha calma, aunque esté molesto.
B1He always answers very calmly, even if he is annoyed.
to answer
📝 In Action
El teléfono está sonando. ¿Vas a contestar?
A2The phone is ringing. Are you going to answer?
Toca la puerta; no contestan.
B1Knock on the door; they aren't answering.
to talk back, to sass
Also: to retort
📝 In Action
No me contestes de esa manera, jovencito.
B1Don't talk back to me that way, young man.
Cuando lo regañaron, contestó con un comentario sarcástico.
C1When they scolded him, he retorted with a sarcastic comment.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: contestar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'contestar' in the sense of 'talking back' or being rude?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *contestari*, which originally meant 'to call upon witnesses' or 'to confirm with evidence.' Over time, this evolved to mean confirming or affirming something verbally, eventually settling on the modern meaning of 'to reply' or 'to answer.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'contestar' the same as 'responder'?
They are very similar synonyms and often interchangeable. 'Responder' is sometimes considered slightly more formal or implies a response to a general situation or action, while 'contestar' is very direct for answering a question, a letter, or a phone call.
Does 'contestar' require the preposition 'a'?
No, it doesn't always need 'a'. You can say 'Contesto la pregunta' (I answer the question) or 'Contesto a la pregunta.' In modern usage, using it without 'a' is often preferred, especially when the thing being answered is a direct object (like a letter or question).