Cette page dans ta langue

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A1 verb #1,600 le plus courant 13 min de lecture

pedir

Top 1,600

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces pedir en 30 secondes

Explication pedir in your Level:

At the A1 level, the verb pedir is introduced as an essential survival tool for navigating basic daily interactions in a Spanish-speaking environment. Beginners primarily learn this verb in the context of food and commerce. It is the direct equivalent of the English verb 'to order' when at a restaurant, café, or bar. Students are taught the basic present tense conjugations, focusing heavily on the first person singular (yo pido) and the polite second person formal (usted pide) or plural (ustedes piden). The concept of the e-to-i stem change is introduced here, marking it as one of the first irregular verbs learners encounter alongside tener and venir. At this stage, the syntactic structure is kept very simple: Pedir + noun. For example, 'Pido un café' (I order a coffee) or 'Pido la cuenta' (I ask for the bill). Teachers emphasize that learners must not use the prepositions 'por' or 'para' after the verb, as the English translation 'to ask for' often misleads beginners into saying 'pedir por un café', which is incorrect. Furthermore, the critical distinction between pedir (to ask for an object) and preguntar (to ask a question) is established early on to prevent fossilization of this common error. A1 learners also practice using the verb in simple infinitive constructions with modal verbs, such as 'Quiero pedir...' (I want to order...) or '¿Puedo pedir...?' (Can I order...?), which allows them to communicate effectively even before mastering the full conjugation paradigm. The vocabulary surrounding the verb at this level is highly concrete, focusing on food items, drinks, the bill, and basic help (pedir ayuda). By the end of the A1 level, a student should feel confident walking into a Spanish restaurant and using this verb to successfully order a meal and request the check.

As learners progress to the A2 level, the usage of pedir expands significantly beyond the restaurant setting into the realm of social interactions and personal requests. The grammatical focus shifts to incorporating indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les) to specify who is being asked for something. The structure becomes 'Indirect Object Pronoun + pedir + Direct Object'. For example, learners practice sentences like 'Te pido un favor' (I ask you for a favor) or 'Le pido dinero a mi padre' (I ask my father for money). This introduces the concept of the verb as a transaction between two people. The preterite tense is also introduced at this level, requiring learners to master the third-person stem change (pidió, pidieron) while remembering that the first and second persons remain regular (pedí, pediste). This morphological complexity tests their grasp of Spanish verb paradigms. Vocabulary broadens to include more abstract nouns commonly collocated with the verb, such as 'pedir perdón' (to apologize/ask for forgiveness), 'pedir permiso' (to ask for permission), and 'pedir consejo' (to ask for advice). The distinction between direct and indirect requests is explored, teaching students to use conditional forms like 'Me gustaría pedir...' (I would like to ask for...) to sound more polite. The A2 level also reinforces the difference between pedir and preguntar through extensive contextual practice, ensuring students intuitively know which verb to select based on whether they want an object/action or information. By mastering these expanded structures, A2 learners can navigate a much wider variety of social situations, from borrowing items from friends to making polite requests in shops and offices.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the B1 level, pedir becomes a gateway to mastering one of the most challenging aspects of Spanish grammar: the subjunctive mood. The verb is introduced as a primary 'trigger' verb for the present subjunctive in noun clauses. Students learn the formula: Subject 1 + pedir + que + Subject 2 + Present Subjunctive. This structure is used to express requests, commands, or desires directed at another person. For example, 'Te pido que vengas a mi fiesta' (I ask that you come to my party) or 'El profesor pide que estudiemos más' (The teacher asks that we study more). This represents a major leap in syntactic complexity, moving from simple sentences to complex sentences with subordinate clauses. The morphological challenge increases as well, because the present subjunctive of this verb maintains the e-to-i stem change in all forms, including nosotros and vosotros (pida, pidas, pida, pidamos, pidáis, pidan). Beyond grammar, the semantic field of the verb expands to include professional and formal contexts. B1 learners practice vocabulary such as 'pedir un aumento' (to ask for a raise), 'pedir una cita' (to request an appointment), and 'pedir disculpas' (to formally apologize). The concept of 'pedir prestado' (to borrow) is solidified. Students also begin to encounter the verb in various media, such as news reports or formal letters, where it is used to articulate demands or official requests. The ability to use this verb to trigger the subjunctive accurately and to navigate both personal and professional requests marks a significant milestone in achieving conversational fluency and grammatical competence at the intermediate level.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

In the B2 level, the focus on pedir shifts from basic mechanics to nuanced pragmatics, stylistic variation, and idiomatic usage. Learners are expected to use the verb flawlessly with all object pronouns and across all tenses, including the imperfect subjunctive (pidiera/pidiese) and conditional (pediría) to form complex, polite, or hypothetical requests. For example, 'Te pediría que me ayudaras si no estuvieras tan ocupado' (I would ask you to help me if you weren't so busy). The vocabulary associated with the verb becomes highly abstract and sophisticated. Students learn expressions like 'pedir explicaciones' (to demand an explanation), 'pedir la palabra' (to request the floor to speak in a meeting), and 'pedir peras al olmo' (to ask for the impossible, literally 'to ask the elm tree for pears'). At this stage, learners also explore synonyms and related verbs to avoid repetition and match the exact register of the situation. They learn to distinguish between pedir (standard request), solicitar (formal/administrative request), exigir (to demand), and rogar (to beg). Understanding when to use 'solicitar una beca' versus 'pedir dinero' is crucial for B2 proficiency. Furthermore, the passive reflexive construction 'se pide' is mastered for formal writing and reading comprehension, such as 'Se pide a los pasajeros que abrochen sus cinturones' (Passengers are requested to fasten their seatbelts). B2 students analyze texts where the verb is used to express social demands, political petitions, or legal requirements, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of its role in advanced, adult-level discourse across diverse Spanish-speaking cultures.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the C1 advanced level, the verb pedir is utilized with near-native intuition, encompassing complex syntactic structures, subtle pragmatic shifts, and a deep understanding of sociolinguistic contexts. Learners at this stage manipulate the verb effortlessly within complex conditional sentences, reported speech (estilo indirecto), and passive voice constructions. The focus is heavily on idiomatic expressions, colloquialisms, and regional variations. C1 students master phrases such as 'pedir a gritos' (to desperately need something, literally 'to ask for by shouting'), 'no pedir nada a nadie' (to be self-sufficient), or 'pedir la mano' (to propose marriage). They understand the subtle difference between 'pedir por' (to intercede or pray for someone) and the standard transitive use. In professional and academic writing, C1 learners seamlessly substitute the verb with highly specific verbs like 'reclamar', 'requerir', or 'instar' to elevate their prose. They can analyze the tone of a text based on the author's choice of verb for making a request. Furthermore, they are adept at using the verb in highly delicate social situations, employing advanced politeness strategies (atenuación) to soften requests, such as using the imperfect tense for politeness: 'Venía a pedirte un favor' (I came to ask you a favor). The ability to navigate the emotional weight of verbs like suplicar versus rogar versus pedir in literature or heated debates is expected. At C1, the verb is no longer just a tool for ordering food; it is a versatile instrument for complex negotiation, diplomacy, emotional expression, and sophisticated argumentation.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the C2 mastery level, the understanding and application of pedir are indistinguishable from that of an educated native speaker. The learner possesses a comprehensive grasp of the verb's etymological roots (from Latin 'petere') and how its historical evolution influences its modern usage in literature and formal rhetoric. C2 users can effortlessly dissect and employ the verb in the most archaic or literary contexts, as well as in cutting-edge contemporary slang across different Spanish-speaking countries. They understand the precise legal and administrative implications of the verb in contracts, treaties, and official petitions. The mastery of the verb at this level involves playing with its semantics for rhetorical effect, such as using it ironically or metaphorically in creative writing or public speaking. C2 learners can flawlessly navigate the most complex subjunctive triggers involving the verb, including those with multiple embedded clauses and shifting time frames (e.g., 'Habría sido absurdo que le hubiéramos pedido que lo hiciera'). They are fully aware of the sociolinguistic implications of how requests are made in different cultures—for instance, the directness of a request in Spain versus the heavily softened and indirect requests typical in Mexico or Colombia. At this pinnacle of language acquisition, the verb is utilized with absolute precision, elegance, and cultural resonance, reflecting a profound mastery of the Spanish language's capacity for expressing human desire, necessity, and social interaction.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

pedir en 30 secondes

Means 'to ask for' or 'to order'.
E-to-i stem changing verb (pido, pides).
Do NOT use 'por' or 'para' after it.
Triggers subjunctive when asking someone to do something.

The Spanish verb pedir is one of the most fundamental and frequently utilized verbs in the language, serving as the primary lexical item for expressing the concepts of asking for something, requesting an object or action, or ordering items in a commercial or hospitality context. Understanding the multifaceted nature of pedir requires a deep dive into its semantic boundaries, pragmatic applications, and syntactic behavior across various dialects and registers of the Spanish-speaking world. At its core, pedir denotes a transfer of information where the speaker expresses a desire for the listener to provide something, be it tangible, such as a physical object, or intangible, such as a favor, an explanation, or permission. This verb is an e-to-i stem-changing verb in the present indicative, present subjunctive, and the third-person forms of the preterite, making it a critical irregular verb for learners to master early in their language acquisition journey.

Semantic Core: The fundamental meaning revolves around the articulation of a need or desire directed at an interlocutor who possesses the capacity to fulfill that need.

When a learner first encounters this verb, it is typically in the context of a restaurant or café.

Voy a pedir un café con leche y unas tostadas.

In this scenario, the verb functions identically to the English 'to order'. However, its utility extends far beyond culinary requests. It is the standard verb for asking for favors, demanding justice, requesting a leave of absence, or even begging for alms. The versatility of pedir is evident in its ability to take both direct and indirect objects. The direct object represents the thing being requested, while the indirect object represents the person from whom the thing is requested.

Syntactic Structure: Pedir + [Direct Object] + a + [Indirect Object]. For example: Le pido un favor a mi amigo.

This dual-object capacity makes it an excellent verb for practicing pronoun placement and agreement. Furthermore, when pedir is followed by a subordinate clause introduced by 'que', it triggers the subjunctive mood in the dependent clause, as it expresses a request, desire, or command.

Te voy a pedir que llegues temprano mañana.

This grammatical feature is a significant milestone for intermediate learners. The historical evolution of the verb from the Latin 'petere', meaning to aim at, seek, or request, highlights its enduring role in human communication. Over centuries, the phonetic shifts transformed 'petere' into the modern Spanish 'pedir', yet the core semantic intent remained remarkably stable.

El profesor nos acaba de pedir la tarea de ayer.

In contemporary usage, the verb is ubiquitous in both formal and informal registers. In a corporate environment, one might 'pedir un aumento' (ask for a raise) or 'pedir la palabra' (request the floor to speak). In personal relationships, one might 'pedir perdón' (ask for forgiveness) or 'pedir consejo' (ask for advice).

Collocational Range: The verb frequently pairs with abstract nouns such as ayuda, disculpas, permiso, and explicaciones, demonstrating its abstract utility.

The distinction between pedir and other verbs of inquiry, such as preguntar, is a classic pedagogical focus. While preguntar is strictly used for requesting information or asking a question, pedir is used for requesting an action or an object.

Ella siempre suele pedir demasiadas cosas para su cumpleaños.

Es de mala educación pedir dinero prestado y no devolverlo.

In conclusion, mastering the meaning of this verb involves understanding its role as a transitive verb that bridges the gap between a speaker's desire and the listener's ability to fulfill it, encompassing everything from ordering a simple meal to making complex emotional or professional requests. Its frequency in the language ensures that learners will encounter it daily, making its thorough comprehension absolutely essential for fluency.

Using the verb pedir correctly requires a solid grasp of its morphological irregularities, its syntactic requirements, and its pragmatic nuances in various communicative contexts. As a third-conjugation verb ending in -ir, it follows standard conjugation patterns for many tenses, but its stem change from 'e' to 'i' presents a common hurdle for learners. This stem change occurs in the present indicative (yo pido, tú pides, él/ella/usted pide, ellos/ellas/ustedes piden), notably skipping the nosotros and vosotros forms (pedimos, pedís).

Present Tense Irregularity: The e-to-i shift is a defining characteristic of this verb class, affecting pronunciation and spelling across multiple paradigms.

The irregularity extends to the preterite tense, where the third-person singular and plural forms undergo the same vowel shift (él/ella/usted pidió, ellos/ellas/ustedes pidieron), while the other forms remain regular (pedí, pediste, pedimos, pedisteis).

Ayer mi hermano me pidió el coche para ir al cine.

Furthermore, the present subjunctive features the stem change in all forms, including nosotros and vosotros (pida, pidas, pida, pidamos, pidáis, pidan), which is crucial because pedir itself is a primary trigger for the subjunctive mood when used to express a request or command directed at another person. Syntactically, the verb operates most commonly as a transitive verb taking a direct object. When specifying the person to whom the request is made, an indirect object pronoun is utilized.

Pronoun Integration: The structure 'Indirect Object Pronoun + pedir + Direct Object' is standard. Example: Me pidió un favor (He asked me for a favor).

Siempre le tengo que pedir permiso a mi madre antes de salir.

In hospitality contexts, such as restaurants or bars, the verb is often used without an indirect object, focusing solely on the item being ordered.

¿Qué van a pedir de postre los señores?

Another critical aspect of usage is the distinction between direct requests and indirect requests. A direct request might use the imperative form (¡Pide la cuenta! - Ask for the bill!), while an indirect request softens the demand using conditional forms or modal verbs (Me gustaría pedir la cuenta, por favor - I would like to ask for the bill, please).

Reflexive Usage: While less common, 'pedirse' can be used informally in some dialects to claim something for oneself, as in 'Me pido el asiento de la ventana' (I call the window seat).

¡Me pido el último trozo de pizza!

Beyond tangible items, the verb is heavily utilized in fixed expressions and collocations. For instance, 'pedir disculpas' is the formal way to apologize, equivalent to 'to ask for forgiveness'. 'Pedir prestado' is the standard phrasing for 'to borrow', literally translating to 'to ask for loaned'. Understanding these collocations is vital for moving beyond literal translations and achieving natural fluency.

Tuve que pedir un préstamo al banco para comprar la casa.

In written and formal contexts, such as legal or administrative documents, the verb maintains its authoritative tone, often appearing in passive constructions or formal requests (Se pide a los asistentes que apaguen sus teléfonos - Attendees are requested to turn off their phones). Mastering how to use this verb involves not just memorizing its conjugations, but internalizing its syntactic flexibility and its central role in facilitating polite and effective communication across all spheres of daily life.

The verb pedir permeates almost every facet of spoken and written Spanish, making it one of the most omnipresent verbs in the language. Its high frequency ensures that learners will encounter it in a vast array of contexts, ranging from the most casual street interactions to highly formal institutional settings. The most immediate and recognizable environment for hearing this verb is the hospitality industry. In restaurants, cafes, bars, and hotels across the Spanish-speaking world, the verb is the primary vehicle for commerce and service.

Gastronomic Contexts: Waiters will ask '¿Qué desean pedir?' and patrons will respond with 'Voy a pedir...' making it essential vocabulary for dining out.

Estamos listos para pedir la comida, camarero.

Beyond the dining table, the verb is a staple of familial and friendly interactions. Children constantly use it to request toys, permission, or attention from their parents. Friends use it to ask for favors, borrow items, or seek advice. In educational settings, teachers use the verb to assign homework, demand silence, or request participation.

El profesor nos va a pedir un ensayo de cinco páginas.

Academic Environment: It is used to articulate requirements, such as 'La universidad pide muchos documentos para la admisión' (The university requires many documents for admission).

In the professional and corporate world, the verb shifts to a more formal register. Employees use it to request vacation time (pedir vacaciones), ask for a raise (pedir un aumento de sueldo), or request supplies. Management uses it to demand results or request reports.

Mañana tengo que pedir unos días libres a mi jefe.

In legal and administrative contexts, the verb takes on a tone of official requirement or petition. Lawyers 'piden justicia' (demand justice), citizens 'piden asilo' (request asylum), and documents 'piden firmas' (require signatures).

Media and Journalism: News reports frequently use the verb to describe the demands of protesters, the requests of politicians, or the appeals of charities.

Los manifestantes salieron a la calle para pedir mejores salarios.

Furthermore, the verb is deeply embedded in religious and spiritual contexts. Believers 'piden a Dios' (pray/ask God) for health, guidance, or miracles. This usage highlights the verb's capacity to express profound vulnerability and earnest supplication.

Vamos a pedir por la salud de los enfermos.

From the mundane act of ordering a coffee to the profound act of praying for a loved one, the environments where one hears this verb are as varied as human experience itself. Recognizing these diverse contexts helps learners appreciate the semantic breadth of the verb and prepares them to deploy it appropriately across the entire spectrum of Spanish communication.

Despite its frequency, the verb pedir is a source of several persistent errors for learners of Spanish, primarily due to negative transfer from English, morphological irregularities, and confusion with semantically similar verbs. The most notorious and widespread mistake is the erroneous inclusion of the prepositions 'por' or 'para' immediately following the verb when requesting an object. Because the English translation is 'to ask for', English speakers instinctively translate the 'for' into Spanish.

The Preposition Trap: Saying 'pedir por un café' is grammatically incorrect when you want to order a coffee. The verb inherently contains the concept of 'for'.

Incorrecto: Voy a pedir por ayuda. Correcto: Voy a pedir ayuda.

Another major stumbling block is the confusion between pedir and preguntar. Both verbs translate to 'to ask' in English, but their Spanish applications are strictly delineated. Preguntar is exclusively used for requesting information or posing a question, whereas pedir is used for requesting an object, an action, or a favor.

Pedir vs. Preguntar: If the expected response is words (an answer), use preguntar. If the expected response is a thing or an action, use pedir.

No debes pedir la hora, debes preguntar la hora.

Morphologically, the e-to-i stem change causes significant issues, particularly in the preterite and present subjunctive tenses. Learners often overgeneralize the regular conjugation patterns, resulting in non-existent forms like 'pedió' instead of the correct 'pidió', or 'pedamos' instead of the correct 'pidamos'.

El cliente se enojó y pidió hablar con el gerente.

Subjunctive Triggers: A frequent syntactic error is failing to use the subjunctive mood after 'pedir que'. Saying 'Te pido que vienes' is incorrect; it must be 'Te pido que vengas'.

La profesora nos va a pedir que leamos el capítulo tres.

Finally, learners often struggle with pronoun placement when using this verb with both direct and indirect objects. The indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les) must precede the conjugated verb, which can feel unnatural to English speakers accustomed to placing the recipient after the verb. For example, translating 'He asked me for a book' as 'Él pidió un libro a mí' sounds clunky and unnatural compared to the standard 'Él me pidió un libro'.

¿Por qué no le quieres pedir perdón a tu hermana?

By consciously avoiding the 'por/para' trap, distinguishing it from preguntar, mastering the stem changes, and practicing pronoun placement, learners can quickly eliminate these common errors and use the verb with native-like accuracy.

While pedir is the standard and most versatile verb for making requests, the Spanish lexicon offers a rich variety of synonyms and related verbs that provide finer semantic distinctions, varying degrees of formality, and specific contextual applications. Understanding these similar words allows learners to express themselves with greater precision and stylistic nuance. The most frequently confused related word is preguntar. As previously established, preguntar means 'to ask a question' or 'to inquire', focusing entirely on the extraction of information rather than the acquisition of an object or the prompting of an action.

Solicitar: This is the formal, administrative equivalent of pedir. It is used for official applications, formal requests, and professional correspondence.

Voy a solicitar una beca, no a pedir dinero prestado.

When you apply for a job, a visa, or a loan, you use solicitar. Another closely related verb is rogar, which translates to 'to beg' or 'to pray'. Rogar implies a much higher degree of emotional intensity, desperation, or extreme politeness than the standard verb.

Te ruego que me escuches, no te lo voy a pedir otra vez.

Exigir: This verb means 'to demand' or 'to require'. It carries a strong tone of authority and obligation, leaving no room for refusal.

If a boss demands a report, they use exigir; if they simply request it, they use pedir.

El sindicato va a exigir, no solo pedir, mejores condiciones laborales.

Suplicar is another verb in this semantic field, meaning 'to plead' or 'to implore'. It is even stronger than rogar and is reserved for situations of profound distress or urgent necessity.

Reclamar: This means 'to claim' or 'to demand' something that is rightfully yours, or to make a complaint.

Fui a la tienda a reclamar mi dinero, no a pedir un favor.

Finally, encargar is used specifically when ordering goods to be made, delivered, or reserved, such as ordering a custom cake or commissioning a piece of art. While you use the main verb to order food from a menu at a table, you use encargar to order a pizza for delivery or a cake for a future party.

Voy a encargar el pastel, pero tú tienes que pedir las bebidas.

By differentiating between these similar verbs, learners can navigate Spanish social and professional interactions with appropriate tone, formality, and precision.

How Formal Is It?

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Stem-changing verbs (e to i)

The present subjunctive mood (Noun clauses)

Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns

Preterite tense irregulars (3rd person only)

Imperative mood (Commands)

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

Exemples par niveau

Yo pido un café con leche.

I order a coffee with milk.

First-person singular present tense. Notice the e-to-i stem change (pedir -> pido).

Él pide la cuenta al camarero.

He asks the waiter for the bill.

Third-person singular present tense. Used here to request an object (the bill).

Nosotros pedimos una pizza grande.

We order a large pizza.

First-person plural present tense. Notice there is NO stem change in the 'nosotros' form.

¿Qué vas a pedir para comer?

What are you going to order to eat?

Infinitive form used after the conjugated verb 'ir a' (to be going to).

Ellos piden agua mineral.

They order mineral water.

Third-person plural present tense with the e-to-i stem change.

Quiero pedir un favor.

I want to ask a favor.

Infinitive form used after the modal verb 'querer' (to want).

Tú pides mucha comida.

You order a lot of food.

Second-person singular informal present tense with the e-to-i stem change.

La niña pide un helado.

The girl asks for an ice cream.

Third-person singular present tense. Used to request an item.

Ayer te pedí un libro prestado.

Yesterday I asked to borrow a book from you.

First-person singular preterite (past) tense. No stem change in the 'yo' form of the preterite.

Mi madre me pidió que limpiara mi cuarto.

My mother asked me to clean my room.

Third-person singular preterite (pidió) with an indirect object pronoun (me).

Siempre le pido consejo a mi abuelo.

I always ask my grandfather for advice.

Present tense with an indirect object pronoun (le) referring to the grandfather.

¿Me puedes pedir un taxi, por favor?

Can you order a taxi for me, please?

Infinitive form used with the modal verb 'poder' and an indirect object pronoun (me).

Ellos pidieron perdón por llegar tarde.

They apologized (asked for forgiveness) for arriving late.

Third-person plural preterite tense. Notice the e-to-i stem change (pidieron).

No me pidas dinero, no tengo.

Don't ask me for money, I don't have any.

Negative imperative (command) form, which uses the present subjunctive (pidas).

Vamos a pedir ayuda a la policía.

We are going to ask the police for help.

Common collocation 'pedir ayuda' (to ask for help).

El profesor nos pidió la tarea.

The teacher asked us for the homework.

Preterite tense with the indirect object pronoun 'nos' (us).

Te pido que me escuches con atención.

I ask that you listen to me carefully.

Pedir triggers the present subjunctive (escuches) in the subordinate clause.

El jefe pide que terminemos el proyecto hoy.

The boss asks that we finish the project today.

Third-person present tense triggering the subjunctive (terminemos).

He pedido un aumento de sueldo.

I have asked for a salary raise.

Present perfect tense using the past participle 'pedido'.

Es importante pedir permiso antes de entrar.

It is important to ask for permission before entering.

Infinitive used in an impersonal expression. Collocation 'pedir permiso'.

Me pidió disculpas por su mal comportamiento.

He apologized to me for his bad behavior.

Collocation 'pedir disculpas' used in the preterite tense.

Si vas al supermercado, te pido que compres leche.

If you go to the supermarket, I ask you to buy milk.

Conditional 'si' clause followed by a request triggering the subjunctive (compres).

Están pidiendo donaciones para el hospital.

They are asking for donations for the hospital.

Present progressive tense using the gerund 'pidiendo' (notice the stem change).

Le pedí a María que viniera a la fiesta.

I asked Maria to come to the party.

Preterite tense triggering the imperfect subjunctive (viniera) in the past.

Te pediría un favor si no fuera tanta molestia.

I would ask you a favor if it weren't so much trouble.

Conditional tense (pediría) used in a hypothetical 'si' clause structure.

Se pide a los asistentes que apaguen sus móviles.

Attendees are requested to turn off their mobile phones.

Passive reflexive construction (se pide) used for formal, general requests.

El cliente pidió hablar con el responsable del departamento.

The customer asked to speak with the department manager.

Preterite tense followed by an infinitive, indicating a request to perform an action.

No puedes ir por la vida pidiendo peras al olmo.

You can't go through life asking for the impossible (asking the elm for pears).

Use of the common Spanish idiom 'pedir peras al olmo'.

La situación actual pide medidas drásticas.

The current situation calls for drastic measures.

Metaphorical use where a situation (non-human subject) 'asks for' or requires something.

Me han pedido que redacte el informe final.

They have asked me to draft the final report.

Present perfect with an indirect object pronoun, triggering the present subjunctive (redacte).

Exigió sus derechos en lugar de pedirlos por favor.

He demanded his rights instead of asking for them politely.

Contrast between 'exigir' (to demand) and 'pedir' (to ask for) with a direct object pronoun (los).

Pidió la palabra durante la asamblea para expresar su queja.

He requested the floor during the assembly to express his complaint.

Formal collocation 'pedir la palabra' (to request permission to speak).

Es indignante que nos pidan tantos requisitos burocráticos.

It is outrageous that they ask us for so many bureaucratic requirements.

Subjunctive (pidan) triggered by an impersonal expression of emotion (es indignante que).

El edificio está pidiendo a gritos una reforma integral.

The building is desperately crying out for a comprehensive renovation.

Idiomatic expression 'pedir a gritos' (to desperately need).

Venía a pedirte que reconsideraras tu decisión de renunciar.

I came to ask you to reconsider your decision to resign.

Imperfect tense (venía) used as a politeness strategy (atenuación) to soften the request.

El fiscal pidió la pena máxima para el acusado.

The prosecutor requested the maximum sentence for the accused.

Legal/formal context usage of the verb.

No le pidas peras al olmo; sabes que él no cambiará.

Don't ask for the impossible; you know he won't change.

Negative imperative of the idiom 'pedir peras al olmo'.

Se lo pedí encarecidamente, pero hizo caso omiso.

I asked him earnestly, but he ignored it.

Use of the adverb 'encarecidamente' to intensify the request, with double object pronouns (se lo).

Aquel proyecto nos pidió un esfuerzo sobrehumano.

That project demanded a superhuman effort from us.

Metaphorical use meaning 'to require' or 'to demand' effort.

Pidió asilo político tras huir de su país natal.

He requested political asylum after fleeing his home country.

Formal administrative collocation 'pedir asilo' (to request asylum).

Habría sido un despropósito que le hubiéramos pedido que dimitiera.

It would have been absurd if we had asked him to resign.

Complex conditional sentence with the pluperfect subjunctive (hubiéramos pedido).

El autor pide al lector una suspensión voluntaria de la incredulidad.

The author asks the reader for a willing suspension of disbelief.

Literary/academic usage involving abstract concepts.

Ni que decir tiene que no pienso pedirle cuentas sobre su vida privada.

It goes without saying that I do not intend to demand explanations about his private life.

Idiomatic phrase 'pedir cuentas' (to demand an explanation/account).

A fuerza de pedir, acabó por conseguir lo que se proponía.

By dint of asking, he ended up getting what he set out to do.

Prepositional phrase 'a fuerza de' followed by the infinitive.

La obra literaria pide a gritos una exégesis más profunda.

The literary work cries out for a deeper exegesis.

Advanced academic vocabulary combined with the idiom 'pedir a gritos'.

Pídase lo que se pidiere, la respuesta gubernamental será invariablemente la misma.

Whatever is asked for, the government's response will invariably be the same.

Archaic/highly formal future subjunctive (pidiere) used in a set phrase.

No seré yo quien le pida peras al olmo en estas lides políticas.

I won't be the one to ask for the impossible in these political struggles.

Complex sentence structure integrating an idiom in a specific sociopolitical context.

El menesteroso pedía limosna a las puertas de la catedral gótica.

The needy man was begging for alms at the doors of the Gothic cathedral.

Literary vocabulary (menesteroso, limosna) using the imperfect tense for description.

Collocations courantes

pedir un favor

pedir perdón

pedir permiso

pedir ayuda

pedir la cuenta

pedir disculpas

pedir prestado

pedir un deseo

pedir la palabra

pedir explicaciones

Phrases Courantes

pedir a gritos

pedir peras al olmo

pedir la mano

pedir cuentas

no pedir nada a nadie

pedir de boca

salir a pedir de boca

pedir la luna

pedir tiempo

pedir paso

Souvent confondu avec

pedir vs preguntar

pedir vs solicitar

pedir vs ordenar

Expressions idiomatiques

"pedir peras al olmo"

"pedir a gritos"

"salir a pedir de boca"

"pedir la luna"

"no pedir peras al olmo"

"pedir la cuenta"

"pedir la mano"

"pedir pista"

"pedir cacao"

"pedir agua por señas"

Facile à confondre

pedir vs preguntar

pedir vs ordenar

pedir vs solicitar

pedir vs rogar

pedir vs buscar

Structures de phrases

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour voir tous les exemples

Comment l'utiliser

note

Pedir is a highly versatile verb that bridges the gap between a simple food order and a complex emotional request. Mastery of its syntax is essential for fluency.

Erreurs courantes

Using 'pedir por' instead of just 'pedir' when requesting an object.
Confusing 'pedir' with 'preguntar' when asking a question.
Forgetting the e-to-i stem change in the present tense (saying 'pedo' instead of 'pido').
Failing to use the subjunctive mood after 'pedir que'.
Placing the indirect object pronoun after the conjugated verb instead of before it.

Astuces

The Subjunctive Trigger

Always remember the formula: Pedir + que + Subject Change = Subjunctive. If you ask someone else to do an action, that action must be in the subjunctive mood. Example: 'Pido que estudies' (I ask that you study).

Drop the 'Por'

Never translate 'ask for' word-for-word. The 'for' is invisible in Spanish. Say 'Pido agua', never 'Pido por agua'. This is the fastest way to sound more like a native speaker.

Stress the 'I'

When pronouncing the stem-changed forms like 'pido' or 'pide', make sure the stress is clearly on the first syllable 'pi'. The 'i' should be sharp and clear, like the 'ee' in 'see'.

Restaurant Survival

If you forget all other conjugations, just remember 'Para mí...' (For me...) or 'Voy a pedir...' (I am going to order...). You can survive any restaurant encounter with the infinitive form.

Pedir vs. Preguntar

Create a mental image: If you want an object handed to you, use pedir. If you want words spoken to you (an answer), use preguntar. Keep these two verbs strictly separated in your mind.

Softening Requests

Using the present tense 'Te pido' can sometimes sound demanding. To be more polite, use the conditional 'Te pediría' (I would ask you) or combine it with poder: '¿Te puedo pedir...?' (Can I ask you...?).

Borrowing Things

Memorize 'pedir prestado' as a single chunk of vocabulary. Don't try to invent other ways to say 'to borrow'. It is the standard, universally understood phrase.

Formal Synonyms

When writing a formal email, a cover letter, or an official document, upgrade your vocabulary by swapping 'pedir' for 'solicitar'. It instantly makes your writing look more professional.

Catching the Pronouns

Native speakers speak fast, and the little pronouns before 'pedir' (me, te, le) can get lost. Train your ear to listen for 'me pide' (he asks me) versus 'le pido' (I ask him) to understand the direction of the request.

The Elm Tree

Impress native speakers by using the idiom 'pedir peras al olmo'. Use it when a friend is expecting a miracle or hoping a toxic person will change. It shows a deep cultural understanding of the language.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Imagine you are PLEADING for a DEER (PE-DIR) to come to you.

Association visuelle

Picture yourself at a restaurant pointing at a menu and saying 'PE-DIR' to the waiter to order your food.

Origine du mot

From Latin 'petere', meaning to aim at, seek, or request.

Contexte culturel

Direct requests are standard and not considered rude. Using 'pedir' in the present tense is very common.

Requests are often heavily softened. Instead of 'pedir', you might hear '¿Me regalas...?' (Will you gift me...?) when asking for small items or favors.

The 'voseo' changes the conjugation: 'vos pedís' instead of 'tú pides'.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"¿Qué vas a pedir para cenar?"

"¿Te puedo pedir un gran favor?"

"¿Alguna vez has tenido que pedir perdón por algo grave?"

"¿Qué sueles pedir cuando vas a una cafetería?"

"¿Es difícil para ti pedir ayuda cuando la necesitas?"

Sujets d'écriture

Escribe sobre una vez que tuviste que pedir ayuda a un extraño.

Describe tu comida favorita y cómo la pedirías en un restaurante.

¿Por qué crees que a algunas personas les cuesta tanto pedir perdón?

Redacta un correo electrónico formal pidiendo un aumento de sueldo a tu jefe.

Imagina que puedes pedir tres deseos. ¿Cuáles serían y por qué?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

This is the most common question for English speakers. 'Preguntar' means to ask a question to get information. For example, 'Pregunto la hora' (I ask the time). 'Pedir' means to ask for an object, a favor, or an action. For example, 'Pido un favor' (I ask for a favor). If you want words as a response, use preguntar. If you want a thing or an action, use pedir.

No, you generally do not. The English translation is 'to ask for', which makes learners want to translate the 'for'. However, the Spanish verb 'pedir' already includes the meaning of 'for'. You simply say 'Pido un café' (I ask for a coffee). You only use 'pedir por' when you mean 'to pray for' or 'to intercede for' someone.

Pedir belongs to a specific group of irregular Spanish verbs known as stem-changing verbs. In this case, the vowel 'e' in the stem changes to 'i' when the stress falls on that syllable. This happens in the present tense for yo, tú, él/ella, and ellos/ellas (pido, pides, pide, piden). It does not change for nosotros or vosotros because the stress falls on the ending (pedimos, pedís).

Yes, absolutely. When you use 'pedir' to ask someone else to do something, you must use the subjunctive mood in the following clause. The structure is 'Pedir + que + Subjunctive'. For example, 'Te pido que vengas' (I ask that you come). This is because you are expressing a desire or command, which requires the subjunctive.

To say 'to borrow' in Spanish, you use the phrase 'pedir prestado'. Literally, this translates to 'to ask for loaned'. For example, 'Le pedí prestado el coche a mi hermano' means 'I borrowed the car from my brother'. It is a very common and essential phrase to memorize.

In some parts of Latin America, particularly those heavily influenced by English (like Mexico or Puerto Rico), you might hear 'ordenar' used at a restaurant. However, in standard Spanish and in Spain, 'ordenar' means to give a command (like a general to a soldier) or to organize a room. 'Pedir' is the universally correct and most natural verb for ordering food.

'Pedir disculpas' is the formal way to say 'to apologize' in Spanish. It literally translates to 'to ask for apologies'. It is synonymous with 'pedir perdón' (to ask for forgiveness). You would use this when you have made a mistake and want to formally express your regret to someone.

In the preterite tense, 'pedir' is mostly regular, but it has a stem change (e to i) ONLY in the third-person singular and plural forms. The conjugation is: yo pedí, tú pediste, él/ella/usted pidió, nosotros pedimos, vosotros pedisteis, ellos/ellas/ustedes pidieron. Notice the 'i' in pidió and pidieron.

The phrase 'se pide' is a passive reflexive construction used to make general, formal requests without specifying who is doing the asking. It translates to 'it is requested' or 'people are asked'. You will often see it on signs or hear it in formal announcements, such as 'Se pide silencio' (Silence is requested).

Yes, a very famous one is 'pedir peras al olmo', which literally means 'to ask the elm tree for pears'. It is used to describe asking for the impossible or expecting something from someone that they cannot give. Another is 'pedir a gritos', meaning to desperately need something (literally, to ask for by shouting).

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour les astuces et notes