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piden

PEE-den/ˈpi.ðen/

they ask for, you ask for

Also: they request
VerbA1irregular (stem-changing e>i) ir
A storybook illustration showing a young child reaching out to an adult, asking for a red ball the adult is holding.
infinitivepedir
gerundpidiendo
past Participlepedido

📝 In Action

Mis padres siempre me piden ayuda con la tecnología.

A1

My parents always ask me for help with technology.

¿Qué piden los clientes más a menudo?

A2

What do the customers ask for most often?

Ustedes piden demasiadas explicaciones.

B1

You (plural formal) ask for too many explanations.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • solicitan (they request (formally))
  • preguntan (they ask (a question))

Common Collocations

  • piden permiso – they ask for permission
  • piden un favor – they ask for a favor

they order, you order

Also: they reserve
VerbA2irregular (stem-changing e>i) ir
Mexico
A storybook illustration of a restaurant scene where a server is attentively writing down an order from two seated customers.
infinitivepedir
gerundpidiendo
past Participlepedido

📝 In Action

Piden la paella porque es la especialidad de la casa.

A2

They are ordering the paella because it is the specialty of the house.

¿Qué piden ustedes para beber?

A2

What are you (plural formal) ordering to drink?

Los clientes piden todos los postres para probarlos.

B1

The customers are ordering all the desserts to try them.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • encargan (they order/entrust)
  • compran (they buy)

Common Collocations

  • piden a domicilio – they order for delivery
  • piden la cuenta – they ask for the check/bill

they demand, they appeal for

Also: they call for
VerbB1irregular (stem-changing e>i) irformal
A storybook illustration of a person standing on a crate, pointing forward with a powerful, demanding gesture and a stern facial expression.
infinitivepedir
gerundpidiendo
past Participlepedido

📝 In Action

Los manifestantes piden un cambio en la ley de vivienda.

B1

The protestors are demanding a change in the housing law.

Las Naciones Unidas piden más ayuda humanitaria para la región.

C1

The United Nations appeals for more humanitarian aid for the region.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • exigen (they demand/require)
  • reclaman (they claim/protest)

Common Collocations

  • piden justicia – they demand justice
  • piden la renuncia – they demand the resignation

🔄 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/pidiese
yopidiera/pidiese
túpidieras/pidieses
ellos/ellas/ustedespidieran/pidiesen
nosotrospidiéramos/pidiésemos
vosotrospidierais/pidieseis
View All Tenses & Moods →

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: piden

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses a form of 'pedir'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
midenimpiden
📚 Etymology▼

'Piden' comes from the Latin verb *petere*, which meant 'to seek, aim at, or request.' Over time, it evolved in Spanish to specifically mean 'to ask for a thing' or 'to request.'

First recorded: Old Spanish (around the 13th century)

Cognates (Related words)

French: prierItalian: chiedere

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'piden' only used for 'they'? What about 'you'?

Piden is used for both 'they' (ellos/ellas) and the formal plural 'you' (ustedes). So, depending on the context, it can mean 'they ask for' or 'you (all) ask for'.

Why does the 'e' change to 'i' in 'piden'?

The verb 'pedir' is a stem-changing verb. This means the vowel in the middle of the verb changes in most present tense forms. The 'e' changes to an 'i' (e.g., p**i**do, p**i**des, p**i**de, p**i**den). This is a common pattern for many Spanish verbs.