Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Respuesta in English: Answer / Response

Respuesta · noun (feminine) · rrehs-PWEHS-tah

Respuesta is the Spanish noun meaning answer or response. It is one of the most frequently used words in everyday conversation, covering replies to questions, reactions to situations, and formal written responses alike.

rrehs-PWEHS-tah

Todavía estoy esperando tu respuesta.

I'm still waiting for your answer.

Respuesta in English in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for respuesta in english, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

SpanishEnglishPronunciationRegion / Register
respuestarespuesta in englishrrehs-PWEHS-tahDefault, widely understood
contestaciónrespuesta in englishformal reply
réplicarespuesta in englishretort, comeback

How Native Speakers Use Respuesta

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Classroom question

La respuesta correcta es la opción B.

The correct answer is option B.

Academic or quiz setting.

Waiting for a reply

Le envié un mensaje hace tres días y no recibí respuesta.

I sent him a message three days ago and received no response.

Communication and messaging.

Emotional reaction

Su respuesta ante la noticia fue completamente inesperada.

Her response to the news was completely unexpected.

Respuesta for reactions, not just verbal replies.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Respuesta

Using respuesta as a verb

Incorrect: Voy a respuesta tu pregunta.

Correct: Voy a responder tu pregunta.

Respuesta is the noun (answer) — the verb form is responder (to answer or to respond). They share the same root but serve different grammatical functions.

Confusing respuesta with pregunta

Incorrect: La respuesta del profesor fue sobre la guerra civil.

Correct: La pregunta del profesor fue sobre la guerra civil.

Respuesta means answer while pregunta means question — mixing them up reverses the meaning of who is asking and who is answering.

Lock in Respuesta in English Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Respuesta used by native speakers

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Common Questions About Respuesta in English in Spanish

What does respuesta mean in English?
Respuesta translates to answer or response in English. It is the noun form related to the verb responder (to respond or to answer) and applies to any kind of reply, from test answers to email responses.
What is the difference between respuesta and contestación?
Respuesta is the everyday, all-purpose word for answer or response, while contestación is more formal and often appears in legal, bureaucratic, or academic contexts. In casual speech, contestación sounds overly stiff.
How do you say 'to answer' in Spanish?
The verb is responder or contestar — both mean to answer and are largely interchangeable. Responder is slightly more formal, while contestar is more common in everyday speech, especially for answering the phone (contestar el teléfono).