risposto

Risposto is the past participle of the Italian verb rispondere, meaning to answer or to respond. It is used to form compound tenses with the auxiliary avere, as in ho risposto al messaggio or hai risposto alle domande, indicating that an answer was given.

Etymology and form: rispondere derives from Latin respondere, combining re- with pendere or associated roots to mean to answer. The participle risposto follows the regular pattern for verbs ending in -dere in Italian, and it is distinct from the noun risposta, which means “an answer” or “the answer.”

Usage and grammar: In standard sentences with avere as the auxiliary, risposto remains the past participle and generally does not change for person or subject in everyday usage, as in Ho risposto. When the action is expressed in the passive voice with essere, the participle agrees with the subject in gender and number, yielding forms such as La domanda è stata risposta (the question has been answered) or Le risposte sono state date. This distinction helps avoid confusion between the participle and the noun that denotes the concept of an answer.

Common usage notes: Risposto is primarily a verbal form used to indicate that an answer was given. It is not used as a noun. The related noun risposta is the proper term for “an answer” or “the answer.” In idiomatic Italian, you may encounter phrases like rispondere prontamente or aver risposto in contexts describing prompt or completed responses.

See also: rispondere, risposta, passato prossimo.