odpovedám

Odpovedám is the first-person singular present tense form of the Slovak verb odpovedať, meaning to answer or to respond. It is used to describe the ongoing action of giving a reply to a question, a statement, or a request. The verb appears in everyday speech, journalism, and formal writing and is often followed by the preposition na with a target, such as odpovedám na otázky (I am answering questions) or odpovedám na e‑mail.

Etymology and related forms: odpovedať is formed with the verb povedať (to say) plus the prefix od-, a common construction in Slovak for verbs related to replying or responding. The common related noun is odpoveď (an answer). The verb belongs to the imperfective aspect, contrasting with its future forms such as odpoviem (I will answer) or budem odpovedať (I will be answering). Past tense forms exist as odpovedal som / odpovedala som (I answered), with gender agreement.

Conjugation notes: in the present tense, the standard Slovak paradigm applies: ja odpovedám, ty odpovedáš, on/ona odpovedá, my odpovedáme, vy odpovedáte, oni odpovedajú. The verb is typically used with a direct or indirect object, for example, odpovedám ti na otázku or odpovedám mu na správu.

Usage considerations: odpovedať emphasizes the act of providing a reply, rather than merely acknowledging something. It can denote both short replies and more detailed explanations, and is often used in contexts ranging from informal conversations to professional correspondence. See also related verbs such as reagovať (to react) or odpovedať na otázky.