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"Contestar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to answer", and "a" is a preposition which is often translated as "to". Learn more about the difference between "contestar" and "a" below.
contestar(
kohn
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tehs
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tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
b. to reply to
Sería bonito que me contestaras las cartas alguna vez.It would be nice if you'd reply to my letters sometime.
2. (to retort)
a. to talk back
No puedo salir a jugar por una semana porque le contesté a mi mamá.I can't go out to play for a week because I talked back to my mom.
b. to answer back
Ese chico maleducado siempre anda contestando a los maestros.That rude boy is always answering back to the teachers.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
3. (to dissent)
a. to protest
Los estudiantes universitarios contestaron para mostrar su desacuerdo con el alza de las cuotas.The university students protested to show their disagreement with the fee hike.
4. (to respond)
a, la a(
ah
)A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Podía respirar a duras penas.He was hardly able to breathe.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¡A fregar los platos!Go do the dishes!
¡A la cama!Off to bed!
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me encantaría ganar dinero a espuertas.I would love to earn lots of money.
Llovía a cántaros.It was pouring.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
An abbreviation is the shortened form of a word or group of words (e.g., "UFO" = "unidentified flying object"; "p." = "page").
a. A
El circuito transporta una corriente de 1 A.The circuit carries a current of 1 A.
La intensidad de la corriente eléctrica se mide en A.The intensity of an electric current is measured in A.
