Meaning
To provide a response to a query.
Cultural Background
The concept of 'Radd' is linked to 'Karam' (generosity). A generous person is generous with their words and answers. In Egypt, 'radd' is often used for answering the phone. You'll hear 'رد على التليفون!' (Answer the phone!). In the Levant, 'radd' can also mean 'to obey' or 'to listen to someone' in an informal context. In formal Gulf Majlis, the 'radd' should be preceded by polite phrases like 'Tafaddal' (Please/Go ahead).
The 'Ala' Rule
Always pair 'radda' with 'ala' when you are talking about answering a person or a question.
Past Tense Split
Don't forget to say 'Radadtu' instead of 'Radtu'. It's a common A2 mistake!
Meaning
To provide a response to a query.
The 'Ala' Rule
Always pair 'radda' with 'ala' when you are talking about answering a person or a question.
Past Tense Split
Don't forget to say 'Radadtu' instead of 'Radtu'. It's a common A2 mistake!
Dialect Hack
In many dialects, you can just say 'radd' for 'he answered' or 'he picked up the phone'.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct preposition.
يجب أن يرد الطالب ____ السؤال.
The verb 'radda' always takes the preposition 'ala' (على) when referring to answering a question.
Choose the correct past tense form for 'I answered'.
أنا ____ على كل الأسئلة أمس.
In the past tense with 'I' (ana), the doubled root 'radda' splits into 'radad-tu'.
Complete the dialogue.
المعلم: لماذا لم ____ على سؤالي؟ الطالب: آسف، لم أسمعك.
The teacher is speaking to one male student (anta), so the correct form is 'tarddu' (shortened to 'tard' after 'lam').
Match the phrase to the context.
الوزير يرد على أسئلة الصحفيين.
A minister responding to journalists is a formal, official context.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesيجب أن يرد الطالب ____ السؤال.
The verb 'radda' always takes the preposition 'ala' (على) when referring to answering a question.
أنا ____ على كل الأسئلة أمس.
In the past tense with 'I' (ana), the doubled root 'radda' splits into 'radad-tu'.
المعلم: لماذا لم ____ على سؤالي؟ الطالب: آسف، لم أسمعك.
The teacher is speaking to one male student (anta), so the correct form is 'tarddu' (shortened to 'tard' after 'lam').
الوزير يرد على أسئلة الصحفيين.
A minister responding to journalists is a formal, official context.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsIt's better to use 'halla' (solve) or 'ajaba' (answer) for math problems.
No, 'ajaba' is generally considered more formal in MSA, while 'radda' is more common in daily speech.
Yes, but only if you don't use 'ala'. 'Radda al-hadiyya' means 'He rejected the gift'.
You say 'أنا أنتظر الرد' (Ana antadhiru al-radd).
The plural is 'rudud' (ردود).
Related Phrases
أجاب عن
synonymTo answer
ردّ الجميل
builds onTo return a favor
ردّ فعل
relatedReaction
استفسر عن
contrastTo inquire about
