Răspundem la apel.

Răspundem is the 1st person plural present tense form of a răspunde (to answer / to respond).

So:

• eu răspund = I answer
• tu răspunzi = you answer
• el/ea răspunde = he/she answers
• noi răspundem = we answer
• voi răspundeți = you all answer
• ei/ele răspund = they answer

In this sentence, răspundem means we answer / we are answering / we respond, depending on context.

Romanian often drops subject pronouns when the verb ending already makes the subject clear.

Because -em in răspundem shows we, Romanian does not need noi.

So both are possible:

• Răspundem la apel. = We answer the call.
• Noi răspundem la apel. = We answer the call.

Adding noi gives extra emphasis, like we in English.

Because the verb a răspunde normally uses the preposition la before the thing being answered or responded to.

So Romanian says:

• a răspunde la o întrebare = to answer a question
• a răspunde la un mesaj = to reply to a message
• a răspunde la apel = to answer/respond to the call

This is just the normal pattern of the verb.

Not always in exactly the same way, but la is very common when you are answering something.

Examples:

• Răspund la întrebare. = I answer the question.
• Răspund la telefon. = I answer the phone.
• Răspund la apel. = I answer/respond to the call.

But when the person is expressed, Romanian can also use another construction:

• Îi răspund profesorului. = I answer the teacher / I reply to the teacher.

So:

• thing answered → often la
• person replied to → often an indirect-object structure

Apel is the noun call in an indefinite or general form.

After a preposition, Romanian often uses the bare noun when the meaning is general or not strongly specified:

• la apel = to the call / on call / in response to a call

If you wanted to refer to a very specific call, you could say:

• la apelul acesta = to this call
• la apelul profesorului = to the teacher’s call
• la apelul primit ieri = to the call received yesterday

So la apel sounds natural if the sentence is general or context already makes it clear.

Apel can mean several related things, depending on context:

• call (phone call)
• appeal
• summons / call
• sometimes roll call

So Răspundem la apel. could mean different things depending on the situation, such as:

• We answer the call.
• We respond to the appeal.
• We answer when our names are called.

The grammar stays the same; context tells you which meaning fits.

A simple English-style guide is:

ruh-SPOON-dem la ah-PEL

A few details:

• ă in Răspundem is like the a in about: a short neutral sound
• u in spun is like oo in food, but shorter
• e in apel is like e in bet
• the stress is roughly:
  • răsPUNdem
  • aPEL

So: răsPUNdem la aPEL

Yes. Romanian word order is fairly flexible, although Răspundem la apel is the most neutral order.

Other orders are possible for emphasis:

• La apel răspundem. = It is the call that we answer / We do answer the call.
• Noi răspundem la apel. = We are the ones answering the call.

The default, most straightforward version is still:

• Răspundem la apel.

The dictionary form is a răspunde.

That is the infinitive, equivalent to English to answer / to respond.

You may also notice related forms:

• răspuns = answer, response
• am răspuns = I answered / I have answered
• răspunzând = answering / while answering

So răspundem belongs to the verb family built around a răspunde.

It is neutral. It can fit both formal and informal contexts, depending on what apel means.

For example:

• in a formal speech: Răspundem la apel.
• in a military or school roll-call situation: Răspundem la apel.
• in a more figurative or motivational context: Răspundem la apel. = We answer the call.

So the sentence itself is not especially formal or casual; the context gives it its tone.

Yes, depending on the meaning.

For example:

• a răspunde la apel = to answer/respond to the call
• a reacționa la apel = to react to the call
• a da curs apelului = to heed the appeal / act on the appeal

But a răspunde la apel is a very normal and direct way to say it. It is the most straightforward choice when you mean to answer or respond to a call or appeal.