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How to Say "they ordered" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “they ordered” is “pidieron” — use this when 'they ordered' refers to requesting food, drinks, or items from a menu or store..

English → Spanish

pidieron

/pee-dee-EH-ron//piˈðjeɾon/

verbB1general
Use this when 'they ordered' refers to requesting food, drinks, or items from a menu or store.
A waiter stands ready with a notepad while two customers at a table point at a menu to order food.

Examples

Ellas pidieron dos pizzas grandes y una ensalada.

They ordered two large pizzas and a salad.

Los clientes pidieron la cuenta hace diez minutos.

The customers asked for the check ten minutes ago.

Specific Past Action

'Pidieron' is perfect for describing a single, finished action, like ordering a meal in a restaurant last night.

mandaron

/mahn-DAH-rohn//manˈdaɾon/

verbA2general
Use this when 'they ordered' means they gave a command, instruction, or directive.
A group of leaders pointing forward with authoritative gestures to direct a team.

Examples

Los jefes mandaron que todos regresaran a la oficina.

The bosses ordered everyone to return to the office.

En ese país, los militares mandaron durante muchos años.

In that country, the military was in charge for many years.

Command vs. Request

The most common mistake is using 'mandaron' when you mean to order food or items. Remember that 'pidieron' is specifically for requesting goods or services, while 'mandaron' is for issuing orders or commands.

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