contestar

v.

1 to answer.

contestar a una pregunta to answer a question

contestó que sí/que no he said yes/no

no contestan there's no reply o answer (al teléfono)

Elsa contestó por educación Elsa answered out of good manners.

La estrella contestó sus preguntas The star answered his questions.

Ricardo le contestó a Silvia de mala manera Richard answered Silvia in a bad way.

2 to answer back.

¡no contestes a tu madre! don't answer back to your mother!

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contestar

► verbo transitivo

1 (responder) to answer

■ contestó bien she gave the right answer

2 DERECHO to confirm

► verbo intransitivo

1 (responder) to answer; (replicar) to answer back

■ ¡no contestes! don't answer back!

2 (oponer) to contest, question

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verb

to answer

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1. VT

1) (=responder) to answer, reply; [+ saludo] to return

contesté todas las preguntas — I answered all the questions

contestar al teléfono — to answer the telephone

contestar una carta — to reply to a letter

le pregunté que si vendría y contestó que sí — I asked him if he would come and he replied that he would

2) (=replicar) to answer back

no le contestes así a tu madre — don't answer your mother back like that, don't talk back to your mother like that

3) (Jur) to corroborate, confirm

2. VI

1) (=responder) to answer, reply

abstenerse de contestar — to make no reply

no contestan — there's no reply o answer

2) (Pol) to protest

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1.

verbo transitivo <pregunta/teléfono> to answer; <carta> to answer, reply to

me contestó que no — he said no

2.

contestar vi

a) (a pregunta, al teléfono) to answer; (a carta, a invitación) to answer, reply

no contesta nadie — (Telec) there's no answer

contéstale antes del lunes — let him have an answer by Monday

b) (insolentarse) to answer back

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= answer back, counter, answer, rejoin.

Ex. He began swearing and saying 'I don't know what you're on about, whatever we do, it's wrong!' and of course I answered his nastiness back.

Ex. The president countered with the view that most people fall somewhere between Type A and Type B anyway, and that effective time management and Type B behavior are not mutually exclusive.

Ex. The compilation of an author catalogue or index presents four basic questions which need to be answered.

Ex. And he rejoined: "Do as you please" .

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* contestar favorablemente = respond + favourably.

* contestar positivamente = respond + favourably.

* contestar una carta = answer + letter.

* no saber qué contestar = stump.

* poderse contestar = be answerable.

* que se puede contestar = answerable.

* saber contestar muy bien = be not at a loss for words.

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1.

verbo transitivo <pregunta/teléfono> to answer; <carta> to answer, reply to

me contestó que no — he said no

2.

contestar vi

a) (a pregunta, al teléfono) to answer; (a carta, a invitación) to answer, reply

no contesta nadie — (Telec) there's no answer

contéstale antes del lunes — let him have an answer by Monday

b) (insolentarse) to answer back

* * *

= answer back, counter, answer, rejoin.

Ex: He began swearing and saying 'I don't know what you're on about, whatever we do, it's wrong!' and of course I answered his nastiness back.

Ex: The president countered with the view that most people fall somewhere between Type A and Type B anyway, and that effective time management and Type B behavior are not mutually exclusive.

Ex: The compilation of an author catalogue or index presents four basic questions which need to be answered.

Ex: And he rejoined: "Do as you please" .

* contestar favorablemente = respond + favourably.

* contestar positivamente = respond + favourably.

* contestar una carta = answer + letter.

* no saber qué contestar = stump.

* poderse contestar = be answerable.

* que se puede contestar = answerable.

* saber contestar muy bien = be not at a loss for words.

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contestar [A1 ]

vt

‹pregunta/teléfono› to answer; ‹carta› to answer, reply to

me contestó que no he said no

■ contestar

vi

1 (a una pregunta) to answer; (a una carta) to answer, reply

me escribió pero no pienso contestarle she wrote to me but I don't intend writing back

llamé varias veces, pero no contestaba nadie I phoned several times but no-one answered

a ver si me contestas antes del lunes try to let me have an answer by Monday

2 (insolentarse) to answer back

no me contestes don't answer (me) back

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contestar (conjugate contestar) verbo transitivo ‹pregunta/teléfono› to answer;
‹carta› to answer, reply to;

◊ me contestó que no he said no

verbo intransitivo

a) (a pregunta, al teléfono) to answer;

(a carta, a invitación) to answer, reply;

◊ no contesta nadie (Telec) there's no answer

b) (insolentarse) to answer back

contestar verbo transitivo
1 to answer
2 familiar (replicar) to answer back
'contestar' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
molestar
- reservarse
- telefonear
- aló
- apurado
- bueno
- decir
- dúo
- manera
- pregunta
- responder
- salteado
- sin
- sinceridad
- tardanza
- tardar
- teléfono
- usted
English:
affirmative
- answer
- counter
- hedge
- mind
- must
- refuse
- reply
- snap back
- unanswered
- write back
- can
- fit
- respond
- retort
- stump
- write
- wrong

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contestar

♦ vt

1. [responder] to answer;

contestar a una pregunta to answer a question;

contestar a una carta to reply to o answer a letter;

contestó que sí/que no he said yes/no;

contestó que no podía she replied o said that she couldn't

2. [oponerse a] to oppose;

contestaron las medidas del gobierno they opposed the government's measures;

contestaron la idoneidad del candidato they questioned the candidate's suitability

♦ vi

1. [responder] to answer;

no contestan [al teléfono] there's no reply o answer

2. [con insolencia] to answer back;

¡no contestes a tu madre! don't answer back to your mother!

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contestar

I v/t answer, reply to

II v/i

1 reply (a to), answer (a sth)

2 de forma insolente answer back

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contestar vt

responder: to answer

contestar vi

1) responder: to answer, to reply

2) replicar: to answer back

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contestar vb

1. (en general) to answer

has contestado correctamente todas las preguntas you've answered all the questions correctly

2. (replicar) to answer back

¡no contestes a tu padre! don't answer your father back!