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répondre

Etymology and origin of the French word répondre

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Inherited
First attested
c. 980, Passion de Clermont (respondre)
Inherited from
Latin *respondere via Old French
Ultimate origin
Latin (spondeō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ʁe.pɔ̃dʁ/[1]

Forms

répondre[1] Old French respondre, répondre from about 1155; the Académie wrote respondre in 1694 and 1718.[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French respondre, inherited from Vulgar Latin *respondĕre, with a short “e”, an alteration of Latin respondeō (“to answer”).[3][2][4][5][1] The Latin verb, from re- (“back”) and spondeō (“to promise solemnly”), was first a religious term, “to fulfil a solemn engagement”, then “to reply”.[2][6][7] The family of “spondeō” also gave épouser.[2]

Cognate with Italian rispondere and Spanish responder.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

About 980 the Passion of Clermont has « Tu eps l'as deit » respon Jesus “‘You yourself have said it,’ Jesus answers”.[3]

Semantic evolution

By about 1100 the Chanson de Roland used it of a sound echoing back (e respondent li val).[3][8] About 1160 it meant “to stand surety in law”, and, from 1174–76 répondre de “to answer for, be accountable for”, je vous en réponds dates from about 1530.[2][3] In the liturgy the faithful respond to the priest (about 1190), whence répondre la messe.[3][2]

From about 1180 répondre à also meant “to correspond to”; a horse répond aux aides (1690), and in the 19th and 20th centuries one answers the door and the telephone.[3][2] In the 20th century it also meant “to react as expected”, of a machine or a patient.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 980 – Respon in the Passion of Clermont.[3]
  • c. 1100 – Of an echo, in the Chanson de Roland.[3]
  • c. 1155 – The form répondre in Wace.[2][9]
  • 1174–1176 – Respundre de, to answer for.[3]
  • c. 1190 – Liturgical responses.[3]
  • c. 1530 – Je vous en réponds.[2]
  • 1690 – Of a horse responding to the aids.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To answer, reply: répondre à une question, répondre oui.[7][1]
  2. To answer back, retort.[2]
  3. To answer a call: répondre au téléphone, répondre présent.[2][1]
  4. Répondre à: to meet, correspond to: répondre aux besoins.[3]
  5. To react, respond: le moteur ne répond plus.[2]
  6. Répondre de: to answer for, vouch for: je réponds de lui.[1][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 10, 310a
  6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  9. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Répondre.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/r%C3%A9pondre. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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