Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "to answer" in Russian

This Russian word is one of the top 1000 words in Russian. The complete list of most common Russian words is available here.

ответить

Meaning: to answer, reply, respond, be responsible for, be in charge of, meet

Pronunciation: [ah-TVYEH-teet']

Part of speech: verb (perfective aspect)

Rank: #190 (see frequency list)

The man has answered the letter.

Example sentences:

Он отвéтил на письмó.
He answered the letter.
Отвéть за меня на экзáмене, а?
Please help me get an answer at the exam, ok?
literal Answer for me at the exam, ok?
Онa отвéтилa мне злóм на добрoту́.
She reacted inadequately to my kindness.
literal She answered with malice to my kindness.
Écли меня́ учи́тель спрóсит - я отвéчу
If the teacher asks me, I'll give an answer.
Ты у меня́ отвéтишь за разби́тое стеклó!
You'll assume all the responsibility for the broken glass!
Óчень хорошó, что ты прáвильно отвéтил на вопрóc!
It's very good that you've answered the question correctly! (informal)
Пропéла пти́ца, ей отвéтили други́е.
A bird sang, the others responded.

Idioms and set expressions:

отвéтить на вопрóc = to answer a question
отвéтить соглácием = to give one's consent
отвéтить откáзом = to refuse
отвéтить взаи́мностью = to reciprocate smb's feelings

Related words:

отвечáть = to answer
отвéт = answer
отвéтный = reciprocal
отвéтчик = respondant
отвéтственность = responsibility

Verb conjugation:

Present Tense

The perfective verb ответить is not used in the Present Tense. Use the imperfective verb отвечать instead.

Past Tense

I, you (singular), he	отве́тил
she	отве́тила
it	отве́тило
we, you (plural), they	отве́тили

Future Simple Tense

I	отве́чу
you (singular)	отве́тишь
he, she, it	отве́тит
we	отве́тим
you (plural)	отве́тите
they	отве́тят

Future Compound Tense

The perfective verb ответить is not used in the Future Compound Tense. Use the imperfective verb отвечать instead.

Imperative Mood (Command Form)

you (singular)	отве́ть
you (plural)	отве́тьте

View full conjugation table for the verb pair отвечать/ответить

Vocabulary lesson: By Russificate blog exclusively for MasterRussian

Phrase recordings: Copyright(c) 2011 MasterRussian.com. All rights reserved.
Word recordings: Copyright(c) 2006 Streit Goulnara, Streit Eric, Vion Nicolas. Copyright(c) 2007 S. Sakhno, N. Vion. Distributed under CC-BY.

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