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pedí

/peh-DEE/

I requested

A small child standing politely next to an adult, holding out a single flower as a formal request.

Visualizing 'I requested': The child formally presented the flower.

pedí(Verb (past tense))

A1irregular (e>i stem-change) ir

I requested

?

to ask formally or generally

,

I asked for

?

when talking about help or permission

Also:

I demanded

?

in a strong context

📝 In Action

Pedí un aumento de sueldo después de un año.

B1

I requested a salary increase after one year.

Le pedí la contraseña del Wi-Fi al camarero.

A2

I asked the waiter for the Wi-Fi password.

Pedí permiso para salir temprano.

A1

I asked for permission to leave early.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • solicité (I requested (formal))
  • rogué (I begged)

Common Collocations

  • pedir disculpas – to apologize (to ask for forgiveness)
  • pedir un deseo – to make a wish

💡 Grammar Points

Preterite Tense

The form 'pedí' tells you that the action (asking/requesting) started and finished completely in the past, like a single, completed event.

Pedir vs. Preguntar

Remember, 'pedir' means 'to ask for something physical or a favor' (I asked for water). Use 'preguntar' when you are 'asking a question or seeking information' (I asked if she was coming).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Stem Change Error

Mistake: "I wrote 'pedíó' or 'pedíeron' instead of 'pidió' or 'pidieron'."

Correction: The verb 'pedir' changes its vowel from 'e' to 'i' in the third person forms of the preterite: 'él/ella/usted pidió' and 'ellos/ellas/ustedes pidieron'. The 'yo' form ('pedí') is regular in the stem.

A waiter placing a large, steaming plate of spaghetti and meatballs in front of a smiling customer seated at a table.

Visualizing 'I ordered': The waiter delivered the spaghetti I asked for.

pedí(Verb (past tense))

A2

I ordered

?

food, drink, or items in a shop

📝 In Action

Pedí un café con leche y una tostada.

A1

I ordered a coffee with milk and toast.

Cuando fui a la tienda, pedí el modelo nuevo del teléfono.

A2

When I went to the store, I ordered the new phone model.

El camarero se equivocó y me trajo lo que no pedí.

B1

The waiter made a mistake and brought me what I didn't order.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • encargué (I commissioned / I ordered)

Common Collocations

  • pedir la cuenta – to ask for the bill (check)

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pedí

Question 1 of 2

Which Spanish verb is used when asking for the time or seeking an answer?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'pedí' spelled with an accent mark?

The accent mark on the 'i' (pedí) is necessary because without it, the word would follow the normal rules for stress and be pronounced /PEH-di/, but we need the stress to fall strongly on the last syllable: /peh-DEE/. The accent ensures the pronunciation is correct in the past tense.

Is 'pedí' an irregular verb form?

Yes and no! The 'yo' form ('pedí') is regular in its ending, but the base verb 'pedir' is considered irregular because it changes its root vowel from 'e' to 'i' in many other forms, especially the third person past tense ('él pidió') and the entire present subjunctive.