Skip to content
ShadowLearn by engaging
Spanish ShadowLanguages on ShadowMore from SpanishPodcast

A2 Spanish Word Pair

Pedir vs Preguntar: Ask For or Ask a Question

pedir vs preguntar

0:55 min video · 3 sentences · 2 key words

Transcript with English

Hide the English to test yourself.
  1. Lucía pide un café.Lucía orders a coffee.
  2. Pablo pregunta por la calle.Pablo asks about the street.
  3. Ella pide un bolígrafo.She asks for a pen.

About this lesson

Pedir means to ask for or order something. Preguntar means to ask a question. Three short situations show when only one fits.

How to practise

  1. Before each example plays, pick the word that fits and say your answer out loud.
  2. Read the difference card, then repeat every example in the Te toca · Your turn pause.
  3. At the end, check the common mistake so you never make it again.

The difference: pedir vs preguntar

  • pedir to ask for, to order. Use it to request a thing or action.
  • preguntar to ask a question. Use it to get information or an answer.

Common mistake: Pregunto un café. ✗ · Pido un café. ✓ (You request a thing with pedir; preguntar is for questions.)

Which one fits?

Say the missing word out loud first, then open the answer.

  1. Lucía ＿＿ un café.

    pide / pregunta · She requests something to drink

    Show the answer

    Lucía pide un café.

    Lucía orders a coffee.

  2. Pablo ＿＿ por la calle.

    pregunta / pide · He wants information, not an object

    Show the answer

    Pablo pregunta por la calle.

    Pablo asks about the street.

  3. Ella ＿＿ un bolígrafo.

    pide / pregunta · She needs an object from a colleague

    Show the answer

    Ella pide un bolígrafo.

    She asks for a pen.

Key words

SpanishEnglishLevel
pedirto ask for, to order
preguntarto ask a question

New A2 lessons every week

Stories, listening quizzes and conversations at your level.

Subscribe on YouTube

Get The Spanish Shadow Weekly

One email every Sunday: the week's new Spanish videos, one grammar point and one culture note. Free.

More A2 lessons

All A2 lessons →