How to Say "to ask" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to ask” is “preguntar” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Necesito preguntar algo al profesor sobre la tarea.
I need to ask the teacher something about the homework.
¿Qué hora es? Siempre pregunto la misma cosa.
What time is it? I always ask the same thing.
Ella preguntó por su salud después de la operación.
She asked about his health after the operation.
Asking Who Received the Action
When asking a question to a person, use 'a' before the person: 'Pregunté al camarero' (I asked the waiter). The person receiving the question is treated like an indirect object.
Preguntar vs. Pedir
Mistake: “Using 'preguntar' when you want a physical item or a favor.”
Correction: Use 'preguntar' only for questions or information. Use 'pedir' for things or requests: 'Pedí agua' (I asked for water), NOT 'Pregunté agua'.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.