Inklingo

contestó

kon-tes-TOHkontesˈto

contestó means answered in Spanish (past action by one person).

answered, replied

Also: responded, talked back
VerbA1regular ar
A person holding an old-fashioned telephone receiver to their ear with a pleasant expression, as if responding to a caller.
gerundcontestando
past Participlecontestado
infinitivecontestar

📝 In Action

Ella contestó el teléfono a la primera.

A1

She answered the phone on the first ring.

El estudiante contestó todas las preguntas.

A1

The student answered all the questions.

Él me contestó de forma muy amable.

A2

He replied to me in a very kind way.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • respondió (responded)
  • replicó (replied/retorted)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • contestó bienanswered correctly
  • contestó rápidoanswered quickly

Idioms & Expressions

  • le contestó de mala ganaanswered unwillingly or rudely

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedescontestaran
yocontestara
contestaras
vosotroscontestarais
nosotroscontestáramos
él/ella/ustedcontestara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedescontesten
yoconteste
contestes
vosotroscontestéis
nosotroscontestemos
él/ella/ustedconteste

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedescontestaron
yocontesté
contestaste
vosotroscontestasteis
nosotroscontestamos
él/ella/ustedcontestó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedescontestaban
yocontestaba
contestabas
vosotroscontestabais
nosotroscontestábamos
él/ella/ustedcontestaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedescontestan
yocontesto
contestas
vosotroscontestáis
nosotroscontestamos
él/ella/ustedcontesta

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "contestó" in Spanish:

talked back

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: contestó

Question 1 of 2

Which of these people is likely the subject of 'contestó'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
contestar(to answer)Verb
contestación(an answer/reply)Noun
contestador(answering machine)Noun
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

From the Latin 'contestari', which originally meant to call witnesses into court or to start a legal action.

First recorded: 13th Century

Cognates (Related words)

English: contestFrench: contester

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'contestó' only work for talking?

No! It works for answering the phone, answering a door, or even responding to an email.

Can I use 'contestó' to mean 'argued back'?

Yes, if used with a certain tone, 'él me contestó' can imply that someone answered back rudely or defiantly.