odgovorite

Odgovorite is a verb form used in several South Slavic languages, notably Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, and Slovenian. It is the second-person plural imperative of the verb odgovoriti, meaning to answer or to reply. The form is employed when directing two or more people to provide a response, and it can also be used in formal contexts to address a single person or a group with politeness.

In typical usage, odgovoriťe is found in sentences such as: Odgovorite na ova pitanja. (Answer these questions.) Molim vas, odgovorite čim prije. (Please respond as soon as possible.) The imperative distinguishes between informal singular (odgovori) and plural or formal address (odgovorite) in many varieties of these languages.

Etymology and related forms center on the base verb odgovoriti, which derives from the root govor- meaning to speak, with the prefix od- contributing a notion of returning or replying. The common noun odgovor means “an answer” or “a reply,” connecting closely with the verb’s meaning.

Usage notes emphasize that odgovorite is primarily a directive to multiple addressees or a formal imperative in polite address. For informal singular, speakers typically use odgovor i or a similar singular form, such as odgovori, depending on the language variant. The form is widely understood across the standardized varieties of the languages in which odgovoriti is used.