How to Say "to inquire" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to inquire” is “preguntar” — use 'preguntar' when you are asking a direct question to get specific information, like asking a teacher for clarification or requesting details.
Use 'preguntar' when you are asking a direct question to get specific information, like asking a teacher for clarification or requesting details.
Learn more →
Choose 'indagar' when you are trying to find out more information by asking questions, especially in a context of investigation or deeper research.
Learn more →preh-goon-TAHRpɾe.ɣunˈtaɾ
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'.
een-dah-GAHRindaˈɣaɾ
Examples
La policía decidió indagar más sobre el caso.
The police decided to investigate further into the case.
Es importante indagar en la historia de la empresa antes de aceptar el trabajo.
It's important to look into the company's history before accepting the job.
Quiero indagar sobre mis antepasados.
I want to look into my ancestors.
The 'G' to 'GU' Spelling Change
When 'indagar' is followed by an 'e' sound (like in the past 'yo' form or the special 'wishes' form), the 'g' changes to 'gu' to keep the hard 'G' sound (like in 'game'). Without the 'u', it would sound like a 'j' sound.
Prepositions with Indagar
You can use 'indagar' on its own, but it's very common to follow it with 'sobre' (about) or 'en' (in/into) when mentioning the subject of your investigation.
Using it for simple questions
Mistake: “Me indagó la hora.”
Correction: Me preguntó la hora. (Use 'preguntar' for simple questions; 'indagar' is for deeper looking into things.)
Missing the 'u' in writing
Mistake: “Yo indagé sobre el problema.”
Correction: Yo indagué sobre el problema. (Don't forget the 'u' in the 'yo' past tense!)
Using 'preguntar' for investigations
Learners often use 'preguntar' for any situation where they are asking questions. Remember that 'indagar' implies a deeper search for information or an investigation, which 'preguntar' alone does not convey.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.