preguntarle
“preguntarle” means “to ask him/her/you (formal)” in Spanish (When the person receiving the question is male, female, or an adult/superior you address formally.).
to ask him/her/you (formal)
Also: to question him/her
📝 In Action
Necesito preguntarle la hora.
A1I need to ask him/her/you what time it is.
Antes de irnos, deberíamos preguntarle si quiere venir.
A2Before leaving, we should ask him/her if they want to come.
Intenté preguntarle, pero estaba ocupado.
B1I tried to ask him, but he was busy.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: preguntarle
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'preguntarle'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb *preguntar* comes from the Latin word *percontari*, which meant 'to inquire diligently' or 'to question thoroughly.' The *le* is a later addition from Latin's dative case.
First recorded: 13th century (as 'preguntar')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the pronoun 'le' attached to the end of the verb?
In Spanish, when you use the verb in its base form (the infinitive, or the '-ing' form), pronouns like *le* (him/her/you) and *me* (me) must attach directly to the end of that verb, forming a single word.
Does 'preguntarle' need an accent mark?
Yes, *preguntarle* needs a written accent mark when the 'le' is attached to the gerund (the '-ing' form): *preguntándole* (asking him/her). This is because attaching the pronoun shifts the stress of the word, and the accent mark keeps the original pronunciation.