antworten

Meaning and Usage

"Antworten" is a German verb that means "to answer" or "to reply." It is used to describe the action of responding to a question, statement, or communication.

Linguistic Analysis

The word "antworten" is a regular verb in German. It doesn't have a prefix or suffix and comes from the Middle High German "antwurten," which is derived from the Old High German "antworden."

Comparisons between German and English

The German word "antworten" has a clear resemblance in both meaning and structure to its English counterpart "to answer."

Cultural Context

In German culture, politeness is highly regarded, and providing a prompt and courteous response is considered essential. Therefore, "antworten" holds cultural significance in communication.

Example Sentences

  1. Er antwortete auf die Frage des Lehrers. (He answered the teacher's question.)
  2. Sie antwortete auf die E-Mail sofort. (She replied to the email immediately.)

Memory Tips

To remember the meaning of "antworten," think of the word "answer" in English. The similarity between the two languages can help in memorizing the meaning of "antworten."

Additional Vocabulary

  • Synonyms: reagieren (to react), erwidern (to retort)
  • Antonyms: fragen (to ask), schweigen (to be silent)

Conjugation (for verbs)

  • Ich antworte (I answer)
  • Du antwortest (You answer)
  • Er/sie/es antwortet (He/she/it answers)
  • Wir antworten (We answer)
  • Ihr antwortet (You [plural] answer)
  • Sie antworten (They answer)

Gender and Plural (for nouns)

N/A

This word is a verb and does not have a gender or plural form.

I hope this helps you understand the word "antworten" better! Let me know if you have any other questions or need further assistance.