respondam

Respondam is a Portuguese verb form derived from the infinitive responder, meaning to respond or answer. It is the present subjunctive form for the third-person plural (eles/elas) and is also used as the imperative for vocês in contemporary usage. The form is produced from the stem respond- plus the ending -am, which aligns with standard present-subjunctive endings for -er verbs in Portuguese. In practical terms, respondam can express a request or instruction directed at multiple people, or introduce a clause in the present subjunctive as in sentences like, “Espero que respondam amanhã” or “Respondam às perguntas.”

Etymology and morphology

Respondam traces to the Latin verb respondere, with the modern Portuguese form developing through standard phonological and morphological changes typical of the language. The -am ending marks the 3rd person plural in the present subjunctive, while the same spelling also serves as the present-imperative form for vocês, depending on syntactic context.

Usage and notes

In everyday and formal Portuguese, respondam is used to command or encourage a group to answer, or to introduce a subordinate clause in the subjunctive mood. It contrasts with responda, the second-person singular or formal imperative form, which addresses a single person. Regional Variation: both Brazilian and European Portuguese employ respondam, with differences mainly in tone and register rather than core meaning.

See also

Responder, imperative mood, present subjunctive, Portuguese verb conjugation.