répondons

Répondons is a French verb form derived from répondre. It serves primarily two grammatical functions: as the present indicative form of the first-person plural (nous répondons), meaning “we answer” or “we are answering,” and as the inclusive imperative meaning “let us answer” (often written as Répondons ! in isolation or used within a sentence such as Répondons à la question). In everyday usage, the form carries the sense of collective action or suggestion.

Morphology and forms: répondre is a regular -re verb in its present tense. The present indicative forms are je réponds, tu réponds, il répond, nous répondons, vous répondez, ils répondent. The form répondons is identical to the imperative mood’s first-person plural, with the imperative typically written without a subject pronoun: Répondons, or Répondons à cette question. The pronunciation is generally [ʁe.pɔ̃.dɔ̃].

Usage and nuance: When used as a present tense verb, répondons conveys a simple statement about “we” answering. As an imperative, it signals a suggestion or encouragement to act together, often in cooperative, instructional, or persuasive contexts, such as group tasks, discussions, or collaborative decisions. It should be distinguished from nouns with similar spellings, such as réplique, réponse, or réponses, which refer to an answer or a set of answers rather than a verb form.

Etymology and related forms: répondre comes from the Latin respondere, formed with the prefix re- and the root spond- related to promising or pledging. The English cognate is respond. Related French forms include réponds (tu), répond (il/elle/on répond), répondent (ils/elles).

See also: répondre, réponse, réponses.