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pedir

peh-deerpeˈðiɾ

to ask for

Also: to request
VerbA1irregular (e:i) ir
A small child reaching towards a colorful toy block on a floor, looking up at an adult standing nearby, indicating they are asking for the object.
infinitivepedir
gerundpidiendo
past Participlepedido

📝 In Action

Voy a pedir ayuda con mi tarea.

A1

I'm going to ask for help with my homework.

Ella me pidió un favor muy grande.

A2

She asked me for a very big favor.

Siempre piden más tiempo para terminar el proyecto.

B1

They always ask for more time to finish the project.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • pedir ayuda – to ask for help
  • pedir perdón – to ask for forgiveness
  • pedir un deseo – to make a wish
  • pedir la mano – to ask for someone's hand in marriage

Idioms & Expressions

  • pedir peras al olmo – To ask for the impossible; to have unrealistic expectations.

to order

VerbA1irregular (e:i) ir
Mexico & some parts of Latin America
A server in a restaurant holding a notepad and pen, taking an order from a customer seated at a table who is pointing at a menu.
infinitivepedir
gerundpidiendo
past Participlepedido

📝 In Action

¿Qué vas a pedir?

A1

What are you going to order?

Pedimos una pizza para cenar anoche.

A2

We ordered a pizza for dinner last night.

Voy a pedir el pescado, por favor.

A1

I'm going to order the fish, please.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ordenar (to order (used in some regions))

Common Collocations

  • pedir para llevar – to order for takeout/to go
  • pedir la cuenta – to ask for the bill/check

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedpide
yopido
túpides
ellos/ellas/ustedespiden
nosotrospedimos
vosotrospedís

imperfect

él/ella/ustedpedía
yopedía
túpedías
ellos/ellas/ustedespedían
nosotrospedíamos
vosotrospedíais

preterite

él/ella/ustedpidió
yopedí
túpediste
ellos/ellas/ustedespidieron
nosotrospedimos
vosotrospedisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedpida
yopida
túpidas
ellos/ellas/ustedespidan
nosotrospidamos
vosotrospidáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedpidiera
yopidiera
túpidieras
ellos/ellas/ustedespidieran
nosotrospidiéramos
vosotrospidierais
View All Tenses & Moods →

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "pedir" in Spanish:

to order→to request→

🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pedir

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence is correct for asking someone their name?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
el pedido(the order, the request) — Noun
la petición(the petition, the formal request) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'petere', which had a range of strong meanings like 'to seek', 'to aim for', 'to attack', and 'to ask for'. Over time, the Spanish 'pedir' focused on the 'asking for' part of its ancient ancestor.

First recorded: Around the 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: pedirItalian: petere (archaic)English: petition, compete

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest difference between 'pedir' and 'preguntar'?

It's simple: you 'pedir' for things (objects, favors, food) and you 'preguntar' for information (questions). Think: 'pedir' = to request, 'preguntar' = to question.

Is 'pedir' a polite verb to use?

Yes, 'pedir' is perfectly polite and neutral. To make it even more polite, you can use the conditional form 'querría' (I would like) or 'me gustaría' (I would like), for example: 'Me gustaría pedir un café, por favor.'

How is 'pedir' different from 'solicitar'?

'Solicitar' is a more formal version of 'pedir'. You would 'solicitar' a job, a visa, or a bank loan, but you would 'pedir' a coffee or 'pedir' a friend for help. For everyday conversation, 'pedir' is almost always the right choice.