résous

Résous is the second-person singular imperative form of the French verb résoudre, meaning to solve or to resolve. It is used to issue a direct command: Résous ce problème means “Solve this problem.” The word also appears in the present tense as the indicative form tu résous, which translates to “you solve,” but in that case it is a statement rather than a command.

Etymology and forms: Résoudre comes from Latin resolvere, formed with the prefix re- and the verb solvere to loosen or loosen again. In French, résoudre is an irregular verb; its present tense forms are je résous, tu résous, il résout, nous résolvons, vous résolvez, ils résolvent. The imperative forms are Résous!, Résolvons!, Résolvez!; only the spelling is shared with the present indicative tu résous, while the mood and punctuation clarify meaning.

Usage and meaning: Résous is commonly used in educational, mathematical, or puzzle contexts to direct someone to find a solution. It can appear in worksheets, problem statements, or step-by-step instructions. The related past participle résolu and the feminine/masculine adjectives résolu/résolue derive from the same root, used to describe a solution or a resolved state (for example, une solution résolue).

Examples: Résous ce système d’équations en isolant la variable x. Translation: Solve this system of equations by isolating the variable x. Résous rapidement ce problème et rends-moi ta réponse. Translation: Solve this problem quickly and give me your answer.

See also: résoudre, résolution, résolu, résoluble. This entry focuses on the imperative usage of résous and its relation to the broader verb family around solving.