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.).
📝 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.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ 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.