Commonly confused

Pedir vs Preguntar: both mean "to ask" — but not the same

English uses "ask" for two very different things: asking a question, and asking for something. Spanish keeps these separate. Preguntar is for asking questions; pedir is for requesting something.

Key distinction

Preguntar = to ask a question; pedir = to ask for / request something.

Present tense — side by side

pedir to ask for / to request
yo pido
tú pides
él/ella pide
nosotros pedimos
vosotros pedís
ellos/ellas piden
Full conjugation table →
preguntar to ask (a question)
yo pregunto
tú preguntas
él/ella pregunta
nosotros preguntamos
vosotros preguntáis
ellos/ellas preguntan
Full conjugation table →

When to use pedir

Requesting something (food, help, a favour, an object)

  • Pedí una pizza. I asked for a pizza / I ordered a pizza.
  • Te pido un favor. I'm asking you a favour.
  • Pidió ayuda. She asked for help.

Ordering at a restaurant or shop

  • ¿Qué vas a pedir? What are you going to order?
  • Pedimos dos cervezas. We ordered two beers.

Asking someone to do something (pedir + que + subjunctive)

  • Le pedí que llegara a tiempo. I asked him to arrive on time.

When to use preguntar

Asking a question (any question)

  • Me preguntó dónde vivía. He asked me where I lived.
  • Pregunta si hay descuento. Ask if there is a discount.

Asking about someone or something

  • Preguntó por ti. She asked about you.
  • Pregunta por el horario. Ask about the schedule.

Wondering / asking oneself (preguntarse)

  • Me pregunto si vendrá. I wonder if he'll come.

Common mistakes to avoid

✗ Pregunté un café. ✓ Pedí un café.

You're requesting an object (coffee), not asking a question — use pedir.

✗ Pedí cuánto costaba. ✓ Pregunté cuánto costaba.

You're asking a question (how much does it cost) — use preguntar.

✗ Le pedí su nombre. ✓ Le pregunté su nombre.

Asking for someone's name is a question — use preguntar.

Memory trick

Pedir sounds like "petition" — you're petitioning for something. Preguntar sounds like "pregunta" (question) — you're asking a question.

The restaurant test

A quick mental check: if you're in a restaurant and you "ask" for something, you use pedir. If the waiter "asks" you what you want, he pregunta. One is a question; the other is a request.

Preguntar por

Note the common construction preguntar por = to ask about / to ask after someone: Tu amigo preguntó por ti (your friend asked after you). This is not the same as asking for something.

Pedir vs preguntar in indirect speech

In indirect speech, the distinction is especially clear: Me pidió dinero (he asked me for money) vs Me preguntó si tenía dinero (he asked me whether I had money).

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