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A smaller cartoon figure is looking up and making a pleading gesture with clasped hands toward a taller figure who is holding a single red apple.

pedirle

peh-DEER-leh

Verb (Infinitive + Pronoun)A2irregular (stem change e > i) ir
to ask him/her for?to make a request to a specific person,to request from him/her/you (formal)?formal request
Also:to order from him/her?ordering food/goods

Quick Reference

infinitivepedir
gerundpidiendo
past Participlepedido

📝 In Action

Necesito pedirle un favor muy grande a mi jefe.

A2

I need to ask my boss for a very big favor.

Antes de irte, debes pedirle la llave a María.

B1

Before you leave, you should ask María for the key.

No sé qué pedirle para su cumpleaños.

A2

I don't know what to ask him/her for his/her birthday.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • solicitarle (to request from him/her)
  • rogarle (to beg him/her)

Common Collocations

  • pedirle perdón – to ask him/her for forgiveness
  • pedirle ayuda – to ask him/her for help

💡 Grammar Points

Verb + Attached Pronoun

When a verb is in the infinitive form (like 'pedir'), you often attach the pronoun directly to the end. 'Le' means the request is going to a single person (him, her, or formal you).

Pronoun Placement Rule

You have a choice: either attach the pronoun to the infinitive ('Voy a pedirle') or place it before the conjugated verb ('Le voy a pedir'). Both are correct!

❌ Common Pitfalls

Pedir vs. Preguntar

Mistake: "Using 'preguntarle un favor' instead of 'pedirle un favor'."

Correction: 'Pedir' means to ask *for* something (like a favor or an object). 'Preguntar' means to ask *a question* (to seek information).

⭐ Usage Tips

The 'le' is the Receiver

Remember, the 'le' always represents the person who is receiving the request or the object being asked from. If you were asking for money, the money is the direct object, and 'le' is the person.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pedirle

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'pedirle' to mean 'to ask her for help'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

pedir(to ask for) - verb
la petición(the request/petition) - noun
el pedido(the order (of goods)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'pedir' change to 'pid' in some forms?

This is a common irregularity for 'e' verbs in Spanish! In the present tense (like 'yo pido' or 'ellos piden'), the 'e' in the stem changes to an 'i'. It happens in most forms except for the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms, which stay regular.

Can I separate 'pedir' and 'le'?

Yes! When you use 'pedirle' with another conjugated verb (like 'Voy a pedirle'), you can always move the 'le' before the conjugated verb: 'Le voy a pedir'. When using it as a command or alone, the pronoun must stay attached ('Pídele' or 'Pedirle').