How to Say "to answer" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to answer” is “contestar” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
¿Puedes contestar a mi pregunta, por favor?
Can you answer my question, please?
Ella contestó el correo electrónico inmediatamente.
She replied to the email immediately.
Siempre contesta con mucha calma, aunque esté molesto.
He always answers very calmly, even if he is annoyed.
Using 'a' with 'Contestar'
You can say 'contestar la pregunta' (answer the question) or 'contestar a la pregunta.' Both are correct, but using 'a' is becoming less common in many regions, especially when answering things directly.
Confusing 'Answer' and 'Ask'
Mistake: “Using 'contestar' when you mean 'to ask' (preguntar).”
Correction: Remember: 'Contestar' is for giving the response. The action of asking is 'preguntar' or 'hacer una pregunta.'
Other Meanings of “contestar”
Related Translations
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