Réponse or solution? Give a reply or solve a problem in French

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Learn réponse and solution through a scheduling problem, a short exchange and four questions. Practise réponse à and solution à with clear examples.

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In short

Une réponse is an answer or reply; une solution is a way to solve a problem. A reply can contain a solution, but “I don’t know” is still a reply. Both nouns are feminine.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Two colleagues considering a scheduling problem at a French meeting table, plain folders and no clocks calendars or charts.
A useful solution resolves the problem. Illustration: Atelier

What is the difference between réponse and solution?

une réponsean answer; a reply

Focus: what someone says or writes back

une réponse à une question

Merci pour votre réponse.
Thank you for your reply.

Quelle est la réponse à la deuxième question ?
What is the answer to the second question?

une solutiona solution

Focus: how a problem can be resolved

une solution à un problème

Nous cherchons une solution au problème.
We are looking for a solution to the problem.

J’ai trouvé une solution : changeons la date.
I’ve found a solution: let’s change the date.

Two plans at the same time

Le cours et la réunion
  1. Nora

    Le cours et la réunion commencent à dix heures. Que faire ?

    The class and the meeting start at ten. What should we do?

  2. Émile

    Je ne sais pas.

    I don’t know.

  3. Nora

    C’est une réponse, mais il nous faut une solution !

    That’s a reply, but we need a solution!

  4. Émile

    On peut déplacer la réunion à onze heures.

    We can move the meeting to eleven.

  5. Nora

    Bonne idée. Je vais demander aux autres.

    Good idea. I’ll ask the others.

Émile’s first réponse gives no way forward. His second proposes a solution. Nora still needs to ask the others: proposer une solution means putting an idea forward; accepter une solution means agreeing to it.

Is it répondre à or répondre de?

Useful pairs
FrenchEnglish
la réponse à mon messagethe reply to my message
répondre à une questionto answer a question
trouver une solution au problèmeto find a solution to the problem
résoudre un problèmeto solve a problem

La solution de l’exercice est à la fin du livre.

The solution to the exercise is at the end of the book.

In an exercise, solution can name the answer or the worked solution. The instruction tells you whether to give a result, an explanation or both.

Question 1No account needed
Someone replies “Thank you, I received your message.” What have you received?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Une réponse.. The message is a reply: une réponse. It offers no way to solve a problem.

Question 2No account needed
Choose the noun for a practical way forward.Pour éviter ce conflit d’horaire, elle propose une ___.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

solution. Changing the time is a proposed solution to the clash.

Question 3No account needed
Complete the preposition.C’est la réponse ___ ma question.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

à. The normal pattern is une réponse à une question.

Question 4No account needed
Which sentence says the problem has been solved?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Elle a résolu le problème.. Résoudre un problème means to solve it; asking or waiting describes an earlier step.

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