Portuguese · Everyday Verbs

"to answer" in Portuguese: responder

responder

Say it: hehs-pon-DEHR / hehs-PON-dooverb/ʁes.põ.ˈdeʁ/

To answer in Portuguese is responder. Eu respondo and Você responde are everyday. Responder a mensagem and responder a pergunta are common collocations.

Busy chat

Eu respondo assim que puder.
I'll answer as soon as I can.
Practice Portuguese out loud

Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free

How to pronounce responder

Say it

hehs-pon-DEHR / hehs-PON-doo

/ʁes.põ.ˈdeʁ/

hehs-pon-DEHR. Eu respondo is hehs-PON-doo.

"to answer" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
responderto answer / reply

Infinitive.

eu respondoI answer

Present first person.

você respondeyou answer

Present with você.

responder a mensagemto reply to the message

Chats.

sem respostano answer / unanswered

Related noun.

How to use responder in real life

  1. 1Busy chat

    Eu respondo assim que puder.

    I'll answer as soon as I can.

    Respondo is present/future feel.

  2. 2Class Q&A

    Quem responde a primeira pergunta?

    Who answers the first question?

    Responde third person.

  3. 3Email follow-up

    Ela ainda não respondeu o e-mail.

    She still hasn't answered the email.

    Respondeu is past.

Mistakes English speakers make with responder

Incorrect: Eu responder agora.

Correct: Eu respondo agora.

Conjugate: eu respondo.

Incorrect: Answer a pergunta.

Correct: Responde a pergunta. / Responda a pergunta.

Use responder, not English answer.

Good to know

WhatsApp culture expects a quick respondo já even when delayed. Leaving someone sem resposta can feel cold. In formal mail, Aguardo sua resposta is a polite close related to responder.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Group project chat

  1. ChatPal

    Você responde o chefe ou eu respondo?

    Do you answer the boss or do I answer?

  2. You

    Eu respondo. estou digitando.

    I'll answer. I'm already typing.

  3. ChatPal

    Perfeito. Ele responde rápido.

    Perfect. He answers fast.

  4. You

    Se não responder, a gente liga.

    If he doesn't answer, we call.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

Practice this conversation in ChatPal

"to answer" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to answer" in Portuguese

I answer?

Eu respondo.

Answer a message?

Responder a mensagem / responder a mensagem.

Past tense?

Eu respondi; ela respondeu.

No reply?

Sem resposta.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

  1. Step 1: See it in context
  2. Step 2: Say it out loud
  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

Keep reading

Ready to say it out loud?

ChatPal is a voice-first app for practicing real conversations in Portuguese. Try real scenarios and get personalized feedback on your speaking.

Start with 7 days free.