# atbildēt
## Latvian
### Etymology

From at- +‎ an earlier, still dialectally attested, verb bildēt (“to talk, to say”), apparently originally the iterative form of bilst (“to say, to utter”) (q.v.).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [atbîldɛː̂t]
* Audio:(file)

### Verb

atbildēt (intransitive, 3rd conjugation, present atbildu, atbildi, atbild, past atbildēju)
* to answer (to say something in reaction to a question, a request)
    ko tu viņam atbildēji? — what did you answeer him?
    Andriksonam nepatikās atbildēt, un viņš cieta klusu ― Andriksons didn't like answering, and (= so) he was fully silent
    “nu, ko tu sacīsi?” “es nezinu... neesmu vēl apdomājusies”, Liene atbildēja nedroši ― “well, what will (= do) you say?” “I don't know... I'm not done thinking yet,” Liene answered, unsure
    “mammiņ, vai tu klausies?” un māte, no domām iztraucēta, atbild: “dzirdu, dēls, dzirdu...” — “mum, are you listening?” and the mother, disturbed by (her) thoughts, answers: “I'm listening, son, I'm listening...”
* to answer (to give an answer in writing)
    atbildēt ar telegrammu ― to answer with a telegram
    atbildēt dažās rindās ― to answer in a few (written) lines
    studenti sarakstíjās ar jauniešiem Polijā, Vācijā... but nu, nav vairākus měnešus atbildējis uz vēstulēm ― the students corresponded with young people in Poland, Germany,... but now, they haven't answered the letters for several months
* to answer, to recite (to repeat the learned material)
    atbildēt eksāmenā ― to answer in (= during) the exam
    atbildēt vēstures stundā ― to answer in history class
    pie tāfeles stāvēja Adatiņš un atbildēja latviešu valodu ― Adatiņš stood at the blackboard and answered/recited the Latvian language (lesson)
    Zigurds nezināja, cik ilgi bija mācījies, bet reizrēķinu viņš pats sevs varēja atbildēt bez stomīšanās ― Zigurds didn't know how long he had studied, but (now) he could answer/recite the multiplication tables by himself, without hesitation
    paskaidroju skolēniem, ka nākošajā stunda jau saukšu atbildēt dabas zinātnēs un bez žēlastības likšu divniekus, ja kāds nezinās ― I am explaining to the students that in the next hour I will call (them) to answer in (= about) natural sciences and I will give low grades without mercy if someone doesn't know (the lesson)
* to answer (to find a solution to a question, a problem)
    romānā autors mēģina atbildēt uz aktuāliem jautājumiem, kas saviļņo daudzus ― in the novel, the author tries to answer many pressing questions that excite many (people)
* to answer (to react to something that invites a reaction)
    atbildēt, atmetot ar roku ― to answer by dropping (one's) hand
    viņa atbildēja pasmaidīdama ― she answered smiling, with a smile
    atbildēt uz jautājumu ar galvas mājienu ― to answer a question with a nod
    atbildēt uz kāda jūtām ― to answer, react to someone's feelings
    es klauvēju, neviens neatbildēja ― I knocked, (but) nobody answered
    jēriņi bējina skaļās balstiņās; aita, žigli sienu grauzdama, caur zobiem atbild ― the little lambs bleat in their loud little voices; the sheep, quickly nibbling the hay, answered through its teeth
    tu no manis nekā neslēpi, es atbildēšu ar to pašu ― you hid nothing from me, I will answer in kind (lit. with the same)
    atbildēt uz ienaidnieka uzbrukumu ar spēcīgu artilērijas uguni ― to asnwer the enemy's attack with heavy (lit. strong) artillery fire
* to answer, to respond to a stimulus; to seem to be reacting, responding to a stimulus
    daži augi uz pieskārienu atbild ar lapas saraušanos ― some plants answer, react to touch by contracting, closing their leaves
    iedūcās sirēna; tai atbild citas; tūlīt sāk skanēt arī vagonu fabrikas svilpe ― a siren started buzzing; another one answered it; soon also the whistle of the waggon factory was sounding
* to answer for (to be responsible for, to suffer the consequences for something)
    es arī atbildu par visu, ko esmu darījis ― I will also answer for everything that I have done
    ja tu esi izdarījusi kādu muļķību, tad ej atbildi par to ― if you have done some stupidity, then go answer for it
    es atbildu tikai tautas priekšā ― I answer only to (lit. in front of) the people
* to answer for (to be responsible for, to take care of, to be in charge)
    atbildēt par telpu tīrību ― to answer for the room's cleanliness
    atbildēt par kārtību ― to answer for tidiness, order

#### Derived terms

* atbildētājs, atbildētāja

#### Related terms

* atbilde
* atbildība
* atbildīgs, atbildīgums

### References

* ↑ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992) “atbildēt”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca‎ (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN