pregunto
/pre-GOON-toh/
I ask
When used to address another person, pregunto means 'I ask' or 'I question'.
pregunto(Verb)
I ask
?posing a question to someone
I question
?expressing doubt about something
📝 In Action
Yo pregunto la hora.
A1I ask for the time.
Si no entiendo, pregunto al profesor.
A2If I don't understand, I ask the teacher.
Pregunto si podemos empezar ya.
B1I'm asking if we can start now.
💡 Grammar Points
Just 'pregunto' is enough
In Spanish, you can often drop 'yo' (I) because the verb ending '-o' already tells you who is doing the action. So, 'pregunto' means 'I ask' all by itself.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Asking *for* something vs. information
Mistake: "Pregunto por una cerveza."
Correction: Use 'Pido una cerveza.' Use 'preguntar' to ask for information, but use 'pedir' to request an item or a service.
⭐ Usage Tips
To 'ask a question'
The most natural way to say 'to ask a question' is using the phrase 'hacer una pregunta'. For example, '¿Puedo hacer una pregunta?' (Can I ask a question?).
In the reflexive form (me pregunto), the word translates to 'I wonder,' expressing curiosity or doubt to oneself.
📝 In Action
Me pregunto si va a llover mañana.
A2I wonder if it's going to rain tomorrow.
A veces me pregunto por qué las cosas son así.
B1Sometimes I wonder why things are this way.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Me' is Key
To get the meaning 'I wonder', you need to add 'me' before the verb: 'me pregunto'. This shows the action of asking is directed at yourself, like you're asking yourself a question.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'me'
Mistake: "Pregunto si va a llover."
Correction: Say 'Me pregunto si va a llover.' Without 'me', it sounds like you are asking someone else directly if it will rain, not just wondering to yourself.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Doubt or Curiosity
'Me pregunto' is a perfect, natural way to talk about something you're curious about or not sure of, without needing to ask anyone for an answer.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pregunto
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence means 'I wonder what time it is'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'pregunto' and 'pido'?
Think of it this way: use 'pregunto' when you want information ('I ask what time it is'). Use 'pido' when you want an item or a service ('I ask for the bill' / 'I order a coffee'). 'Pregunto' is for your brain, 'pido' is for your hands (or stomach!).
Do I always have to say 'yo pregunto'?
No, you usually don't need to! The '-o' ending on 'pregunto' already signals that 'I' am the one asking. Simply saying 'pregunto' is more common and sounds more natural in most situations.