Spanish The Verbs “pedir” and “preguntar”

In Spanish, both pedir and preguntar translate to “to ask” in English — but they are not interchangeable. The short version: use pedir when you are requesting something (an object, a favor, an action), and use preguntar when you are asking for information (a question). This guide breaks down the difference, shows you how to conjugate both verbs in the present tense, and gives you real examples you can use right away.

Pedir vs. preguntar at a glance

Pedir: to ask for (request something)

Use pedir when you want someone to give you something or do something. It always expects an action or a response. One helpful note for English speakers: the word “for” is already built into pedir — you say pedir agua (to ask for water), never “pedir para agua.”

• Quiero pedir una pizza. – I want to order a pizza.
• Le pido un favor a Juan. – I ask Juan for a favor.
• Pedimos la cuenta, por favor. – We ask for the bill, please.

Preguntar: to ask a question

Use preguntar when you want information — a fact, an answer, directions. You are not requesting an object; you are seeking knowledge.

• Le pregunto a María cuántos años tiene. – I ask María how old she is.
• Pregunta cuándo es la fiesta. – Ask when the party is.
• Tengo que preguntar dónde está el baño. – I need to ask where the bathroom is.

Conjugating pedir (present tense)

Pedir is an -IR verb with an e→i stem change in every form except nosotros and vosotros.

Conjugating preguntar (present tense)

Preguntar is a regular -AR verb — no stem change, just the standard -AR endings.

Real-world examples

• Restaurant: Yo pido una limonada. – I order a lemonade. (requesting) vs. Pregunto si hay menú en inglés. – I ask if there is an English menu. (information)
• Workplace: Pedimos que nos suban el sueldo. – We ask for a raise. vs. Preguntamos por la señora Beatriz. – We ask for (about) Mrs. Beatriz.

A common mistake to avoid

English uses one verb — “to ask” — for both situations, so it is easy to reach for the wrong Spanish verb. If you can replace “ask” with “request,” use pedir. If you can replace it with “ask a question,” use preguntar. A quick way to practice this is out loud with a teacher who can correct you in the moment.

Practice with a live instructor

Choosing between pedir and preguntar gets easier with real conversation practice. In live CORE Languages classes, a professional instructor sets up the kinds of everyday situations — ordering, requesting, asking directions — where these verbs come up, so the right choice starts to feel natural. Practice with a live Spanish instructor and build that confidence.

Frequently asked questions