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How to Say "to wonder" in Spanish

English → Spanish

preguntar

preh-goon-TAHR/pɾe.ɣunˈtaɾ/

verbB1
Use 'preguntar' when you are mentally speculating or asking yourself a question about something external or hypothetical.
A lone person sitting on a grassy hill, resting their chin on their hand while looking thoughtfully at the sky.

Examples

Me pregunto si el tren llegará a tiempo hoy.

I wonder if the train will arrive on time today.

Ella se preguntaba si había tomado la decisión correcta.

She wondered if she had made the correct decision.

Nos preguntamos por qué actuó así.

We asked ourselves why he acted like that.

The Reflexive Meaning

When you add the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se), the meaning changes from asking someone else to 'asking yourself' or 'wondering'.

Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun

Mistake: “I wonder = 'Yo pregunto' (Incorrect when meaning 'I wonder').”

Correction: The correct form must include the pronoun: 'Yo me pregunto' (I wonder). This is a completely different action than 'I ask' (Yo pregunto).

preguntarme

/preh-goon-TAHR-meh//pɾeɣunˈtaɾme/

verbA2
Use 'preguntarme' when the act of questioning is directed inward, focusing on self-reflection or internal deliberation.
A high quality storybook illustration of a young child sitting alone on the floor, resting their chin thoughtfully on their hand, indicating deep internal questioning.

Examples

Necesito preguntarme si esto es lo correcto.

I need to ask myself if this is the right thing.

Empecé a preguntarme por qué nadie había llegado.

I started to wonder why no one had arrived.

Antes de decidir, debes preguntarme a mí.

Before deciding, you must ask me (the speaker).

Two Words in One

This word is the base verb 'preguntar' (to ask) with the pronoun 'me' (me/myself) stuck to the end. The 'me' tells you the action is happening to or for the speaker.

Pronoun Placement Rule

When you conjugate this verb (use it in a specific tense), the 'me' detaches and moves to the front: 'Yo me pregunto' (I ask myself). It only stays attached in the infinitive (preguntarme), the gerund (preguntándome), and affirmative commands (pregúntame).

Forgetting the Reflexive Meaning

Mistake: “Using 'preguntar' when you mean 'wondering' about yourself.”

Correction: Use the full reflexive structure, 'preguntarme' or 'me pregunto,' when the question is internal (I wonder). If you are asking someone else, use 'preguntar.'

Internal vs. External Wondering

The most common mistake is using 'preguntar' when the reflection is deeply personal. Remember, 'preguntarme' specifically implies directing the question towards yourself for introspection, while 'preguntar' is more about general speculation.

Related Translations

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