antworten vs beantworten
German word comparison
Listen to antworten
Listen to beantworten
| antworten | beantworten |
|---|---|
an-TWOR-ten verb | /bəˈantvɔʁtən/ verb |
| to reply; to answer (a question, message, etc.) | to answer something (transitive) — to provide an answer to a question, mail or request |
How they differ
Beantworten is transitive and takes a direct object (e.g., 'eine Frage beantworten'); antworten is usually intransitive (often used with auf + Akkusativ) and focuses on the act of replying rather than acting on a specific object.
When to use each
When to use antworten: Prefer antworten when speaking about the act of replying in general or when using structures like 'auf etwas antworten'.
When to use beantworten: Prefer beantworten when you want to specify the thing being answered (a question, mail, form) and need a transitive verb.
Side-by-side examples
- Kannst du bitte auf meine E-Mail antworten?
(Can you please reply to my email?) - Kannst du bitte meine E-Mail beantworten?
(Can you please answer my email?)
Register & nuance: Both are neutral; beantworten is slightly more common in written contexts when naming the object being answered.