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How to Say "to serve" in Spanish

English → Spanish

servir

ser-VEER/seɾˈβiɾ/

verbA1general
Use this word when referring to providing food, drinks, or attending to customers in a restaurant or similar setting.
A waiter carrying a tray with a single plate of steaming food.

Examples

¿Puede servirnos un poco más de agua, por favor?

Can you serve us a little more water, please?

La camarera sirve la cena a las siete.

The waitress serves dinner at seven.

Mi trabajo es servir a los clientes con una sonrisa.

My job is to serve the customers with a smile.

Mi abuelo sirvió a su país en la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

My grandfather served his country in the Second World War.

The E > I Stem Change

In the present tense, the 'e' in the stem of 'servir' changes to 'i' (sirvo, sirves, sirve, sirven), EXCEPT for the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms (servimos, servís).

Preterite Change

This verb also changes in the past tense (preterite) for the single and plural third-person forms: 'él/ella/usted sirvió' and 'ellos/ellas/ustedes sirvieron'.

Forgetting the Stem Change

Mistake: “Yo servo la comida.”

Correction: Yo sirvo la comida. (Remember the 'e' changes to 'i'!)

servir

ser-VEER/seɾˈβiɾ/

verbB1formal
Use this word for fulfilling a duty, especially in military, public service, or a formal obligation to a country or cause.
A waiter carrying a tray with a single plate of steaming food.

Examples

Mi abuelo sirvió a su país en la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

My grandfather served his country in the Second World War.

¿Puede servirnos un poco más de agua, por favor?

Can you serve us a little more water, please?

La camarera sirve la cena a las siete.

The waitress serves dinner at seven.

Mi trabajo es servir a los clientes con una sonrisa.

My job is to serve the customers with a smile.

The E > I Stem Change

In the present tense, the 'e' in the stem of 'servir' changes to 'i' (sirvo, sirves, sirve, sirven), EXCEPT for the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms (servimos, servís).

Preterite Change

This verb also changes in the past tense (preterite) for the single and plural third-person forms: 'él/ella/usted sirvió' and 'ellos/ellas/ustedes sirvieron'.

Forgetting the Stem Change

Mistake: “Yo servo la comida.”

Correction: Yo sirvo la comida. (Remember the 'e' changes to 'i'!)

atender

ah-tehn-DEHR/a.t̪enˈd̪eɾ/

verbA2general
Use this word specifically for the act of attending to or waiting on customers, focusing on the customer service aspect.
A friendly waiter in an apron handing a plate of food to a smiling customer seated at a small restaurant table.

Examples

¿Quién me atiende aquí?

Who is serving me here?

El médico atiende a los pacientes en orden de llegada.

The doctor attends to the patients in order of arrival.

Estoy ocupado, no puedo atender el teléfono ahora.

I am busy, I can't answer the phone right now.

Direct Object

When 'atender' means serving a person, the person is the direct object: 'Atiendo al cliente' (I serve the client). The 'a' is the personal 'a'.

Confusing 'Atender' and 'Asistir'

Mistake: “Using 'asistir' to mean 'to serve/wait on' (e.g., 'Asistió a la mesa').”

Correction: 'Asistir' usually means 'to attend (an event)' or 'to assist/help.' Use 'atender' for serving customers: 'Atendió la mesa.'

Servir vs. Atender

Learners often confuse 'servir' and 'atender' when talking about customer service. While 'servir' can cover providing food or drinks, 'atender' specifically emphasizes the act of attending to the customer's needs and requests.

Related Translations

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