Vocabulary

Level: A2
Accent: 1 accent
Time: 15 min

Learn Spanish: Pedir vs. Preguntar for Requests and Inquiries

By MicroSpanish editorial team Published 18 Oct 2026

The short answer

The verb pedir means to request, order, or petition for an item, a service, or an action from someone, such as ordering food, requesting help, or asking for permission. It can also request information or directions as a service, as in pedir información or pedir indicaciones.

Key points

The verb preguntar means to ask a question, inquire, or seek specific facts such as times, locations, prices, or conditions.
While both translate as ask in English, their typical communicative focus differs: pedir requests that someone provide something or take action, whereas preguntar poses a question to learn a fact.
When ordering food, requesting the check, asking for help, or requesting directions with pedir indicaciones, use pedir.

This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.

Start the lesson

Stage 1 of 5

Understand

What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.

Examples

En la panadería, pido dos barras de pan caliente.

At the bakery, I ask for two loaves of warm bread.

Why it works: Use pedir because you are requesting a physical item to purchase.

2 more examples

En la oficina de turismo, pregunto el horario del castillo.

At the tourist office, I ask for the schedule of the castle.

Use preguntar because you want information about opening hours.
Cuando tengo dudas sobre el camino, pregunto a los vecinos.

When I have doubts about the route, I ask the neighbors.

Use preguntar to inquire about the route from local residents.

Read the full guide

8 short steps, one check each

The core difference: requesting objects vs. inquiring for information

English speakers use the single verb ask for both ordering food and asking about the time, leading to confusing verb choices in Spanish.

The problem: English speakers use the single verb ask for both ordering food and asking about the time, leading to confusing verb choices in Spanish.

In Spanish, choose pedir when you want to receive an item, service, or favor. Choose preguntar when you want information, answers, or facts.

Pido un vaso de agua en el restaurante.

I ask for a glass of water at the restaurant.

Why it works: Use pedir because you want to receive a physical item to drink.
Pregunto la hora al camarero.

I ask the waiter for the time.

Why it works: Use preguntar because you want information rather than a physical object.

Your turn

Which sentence correctly expresses asking the waiter to bring the physical menu?

Show the answer

Answer: Pido la carta para ver los platos.

You are requesting a physical menu to look at, so you need the verb pedir.

Ordering food and drinks at cafes and restaurants

Learners often try to use preguntar when placing an order because they translate ask for literally.

The problem: Learners often try to use preguntar when placing an order because they translate ask for literally.

When you order meals, drinks, or the bill, you are requesting items to be served. Use pedir for ordering food and drinks. When you ask a question to learn about ingredients or find out what a dish costs, use preguntar. While pedir el precio can also be used to request a price or quote, asking directly about cost at your table naturally uses preguntar.

Ella pide una ensalada verde con aceite.

She orders a green salad with olive oil.

Why it works: Use pedir because she is requesting food to be prepared and served.
Nosotros preguntamos el precio del plato del día.

We ask the price of the daily special.

Why it works: Use preguntar because the goal is obtaining a fact about cost.

You can practise this again in Learn Spanish: Buscar vs. Encontrar for Looking For and Finding.

Your turn

Select the natural sentence for inquiring how much a dessert costs.

Show the answer

Answer: Pregunto el precio del postre casero.

You are asking a question to find out the cost of the dessert, which uses preguntar.

Asking for help, favors, and permission

Learners sometimes use preguntar ayuda because help feels like an intangible concept rather than an item.

The problem: Learners sometimes use preguntar ayuda because help feels like an intangible concept rather than an item.

Use pedir to request an item, help, permission, or an action for someone to perform. Fixed collocations like pedir ayuda and pedir un favor always use pedir.

El turista pide ayuda en la estación de tren.

The tourist asks for help at the train station.

Why it works: Use pedir because help is an action requested from another person.
Siempre pido permiso antes de entrar en la sala.

I always ask for permission before entering the room.

Why it works: Use pedir because permission is granted by someone.

Your turn

Which sentence correctly expresses asking a colleague for a favor?

Show the answer

Answer: Pido un favor a mi compañero de trabajo.

A favor is an action you request from someone, which requires the fixed phrase pedir un favor.

Inquiring about locations and requesting directions

Learners confuse seeking a street destination with requesting transport services like a taxi.

The problem: Learners confuse seeking a street destination with requesting transport services like a taxi.

Use preguntar when inquiring where an address or location is, such as asking where a street or station is located. While requesting directions can also use the phrase pedir indicaciones, inquiring where a place is uses preguntar.

Pregunto la dirección de la farmacia más cercana.

I ask for the address of the nearest pharmacy.

Why it works: Use preguntar because you need location information.
Pido un taxi en la puerta del hotel.

I ask for a taxi at the hotel door.

Why it works: Use pedir because you are requesting a transport service rather than inquiring where a place is.

Your turn

Select the sentence that expresses asking where the subway station is.

Show the answer

Answer: Pregunto dónde está la estación de metro.

Finding where something is located is an inquiry for facts, which requires preguntar.

Using embedded question words with preguntar

Beginners sometimes place clauses starting with qué, cuándo, or si directly after pedir.

The problem: Beginners sometimes place clauses starting with qué, cuándo, or si directly after pedir.

Question clauses that start with words like qué, cómo, cuándo, or si represent inquiries for information. Pair these embedded questions with preguntar when making an inquiry, rather than pedir.

El cliente pregunta cuándo sale el próximo autobús.

The customer asks when the next bus departs.

Why it works: Use preguntar with cuándo to request a schedule detail.
Mi madre me pregunta si quiero café con leche.

My mother asks me if I want coffee with milk.

Why it works: Use preguntar with si to frame a yes-or-no question about preference.

Your turn

Choose the correct sentence for inquiring whether the museum opens on Sundays.

Show the answer

Answer: Pregunto si el museo abre los domingos.

The conjunction si introduces an indirect informational question, which requires preguntar.

Inquiring about people and health with preguntar por

Learners often translate ask about literally as preguntar sobre or confuse it with pedir por.

The problem: Learners often translate ask about literally as preguntar sobre or confuse it with pedir por.

To ask after someone's well-being or inquire about a person, use preguntar por. In contrast, when a seller asks or charges a specific price for an item, pedir is used with an amount followed by por.

El vecino pregunta por la salud de mi abuelo.

The neighbor asks about my grandfather's health.

Why it works: Use preguntar por to inquire about a person's condition.
El dependiente pide diez euros por el libro usado.

The clerk asks ten euros for the used book.

Why it works: Use pedir with an amount and por to state the price asked or charged for an item.

Your turn

Which option correctly expresses asking after a sick friend's health?

Show the answer

Answer: Pregunto por la salud de mi amigo en el hospital.

Asking after someone's condition or well-being uses the construction preguntar por.

The phrase hacer una pregunta vs. the verb preguntar

Beginners frequently say pedir una pregunta or preguntar una pregunta by translating English phrasing directly.

The problem: Beginners frequently say pedir una pregunta or preguntar una pregunta by translating English phrasing directly.

The noun una pregunta combines with the verb hacer when you ask a question yourself. Use the verb preguntar on its own without the noun, or say hacer una pregunta. The phrase pedir una pregunta means requesting a question; to ask someone to pose one, use a construction such as pedir que alguien haga una pregunta.

El estudiante hace una pregunta al profesor de español.

The student asks the Spanish teacher a question.

Why it works: Use hacer with the noun una pregunta to express posing a question.
Si no entiendes la lección, puedes preguntar en clase.

If you do not understand the lesson, you can ask in class.

Why it works: Use the verb preguntar alone without adding the cognate noun.

Your turn

Which sentence correctly expresses that a student poses a question in class?

Show the answer

Answer: El alumno hace una pregunta al profesor.

In Spanish, you make a question using hacer una pregunta.

Lodging and hospitality: requesting amenities vs. inquiring about policies

At hotels and rentals, learners must distinguish between requesting physical amenities or services and asking about stay policies and access.

The problem: At hotels and rentals, learners must distinguish between requesting physical amenities or services and asking about stay policies and access.

In lodging and hospitality settings, you frequently combine both verbs. Use pedir when requesting room amenities, physical items, or staff services. Use preguntar when inquiring about schedules, access credentials, and facility rules.

Pido una habitación tranquila y pregunto la hora del desayuno.

I ask for a quiet room and ask for the breakfast time.

Why it works: Pedir requests a specific room type, while preguntar inquires about meal schedules.
El huésped pide una toalla limpia y pregunta la contraseña del wifi.

The guest asks for a clean towel and asks for the Wi-Fi password.

Why it works: Pedir requests a physical item, while preguntar seeks access credentials.

Your turn

Which sentence accurately describes asking for an extra blanket and inquiring about checkout time?

Show the answer

Answer: Pido una manta extra y pregunto la hora de salida.

You request the blanket with pedir and inquire about the checkout schedule with preguntar.

Before you go

Remember this

Remember the useful guide: pedir is for items, services, and actions you want someone to provide, including requests like pedir información and pedir indicaciones, while preguntar is for posing questions to learn specific facts and answers. When ordering food, requesting the check, asking for help, or requesting directions with pedir indicaciones, use pedir. When inquiring where an address or location is, or asking about schedules, prices, or someone's well-being, use preguntar. To ask a question yourself, use hacer una pregunta rather than pedir una pregunta.

Stage 2 of 5

Listen

Hear it in real sentences, from short to long, and write what you hear.

0 of 5 done

Listening 1 of 5 3 s Ordering a cold drink at a street kiosk.