Is this right estoy listo para ordenar

Question

Is it correct in a restraurant to say estoy listo para ordenar

Excellent question! :) - 0066c384, May 25, 2011

"Ordenar" is what you do to your subordinates; in restaurants it is a false friend. - lazarus1907, May 25, 2011

Answer 1

Hi, Vengo!

Not really, ordenar means "to command" in Spanish, so it's not the best choice to use in a restaurant, because it sounds quite demanding and unfriendly.

Maybe we'd say "Estoy listo para pedir" or, more commonly: "ya hemos decidido" (lo que vamos a comer)

:) - FELIZ77, May 25, 2011

I was a little late. :) - 0066c384, May 25, 2011

Ordenar también significa to straighten, to tidy ( up) , to order, incluso to arrange. - Agora, May 25, 2011

cogumela: ¿Conoces todas las regiones del mundo donde se habla español y las formas lingüísticas que se usan y aceptan en cada uno de esos lugares como para osar decir cual es la forma más aceptable? Si no es así, no generalices por favor. - - Agora, May 25, 2011

oooooooooH ! - ian-hill, May 26, 2011

Answer 2

En toooodo el territorio mexicano, lo más común y natural es utilizar la frase:

" deseo pedir" o "deseo ordenar" cuando se solicita un platillo en un restaurante.

Y quien diga que en México no se usa "deseo ordenar", o no está bien informado o es un mentiroso. Deseo ordenar, no es considerado una grosería, tiene que ver con la "orden", como se le llama al pedido.

Si en España, en Chile, en Argentina, en Colombia, o en Tombuctú, es diferente la forma de pedir, pues es, y punto.

El español es una lengua viva. Cambia de región a región. España no tiene el monopolio de la lengua española. Lo perdió cuando conquistó América.

Segun la academia mexicana de la lengua, ordenar significa:1. Poner en orden, colocar sistemáticamente: Ricardo ordenó sus libros por materias. 2. Dar una orden, dar instrucciones; mandar: Los policías le ordenaron que soltara su pistola. - servans, Nov 10, 2014

El español puede ser una lengua viva, por eso hay organismos regulandolo. Ordenar esta mal dicho en un resturante. Que se diga en mexico no significa que este bien dicho. - servans, Nov 10, 2014

Answer 3

Here in the north of México the waiter will ask " ¿está listo para ordenar?" when he asks if you are ready to order. It is most regular and customary here to say to the waiter "sí estoy listo para ordenar"

Answer 4

You have asked an excellent question. First, I would not use the verb "ordenar" to order in a restaurant. I may be wrong, but I think "pedir" might be a better choice.

The dictionary on the site gives an example of "estar listo"

link text

very good dog, great answer - 00494d19, May 25, 2011

Answer 5

Whichever you say, just say it with a friendly smile and you'll be fine!

Answer 6

Si es correcto, de hecho el mesero siempre dice "estoy a sus órdenes"

Answer 7

Ordenar is very common around here, Texas. In fact I have been corrected to "ordenar" a few times. I think that is regional. Certainly around here ordenar is OK.

PS I have a book right here that advocates it's use, A "mexican spanish" book. Language evolves. - jeezzle, May 25, 2011

Speak the language of the people around you. Even if some people hundreds of miles away call it "wrong" if everyone else is using it, then how it certainly isn't wrong for that situation anyway even if it isn't textbook perfect. - jeezzle, May 25, 2011

Language is a moving target Jeezzle - pacofinkler, May 25, 2011

Answer 8

You hear 'a la orden' all the time in the places I've visited in Colombia. I've never heard ordenar used in the context 'to order' rather pedir or hacer una pedida.

Simpre a la orden.

Answer 9

My 2 cents worth.

In Bolivia they never use "ordenar" in a restaurant - they use "Quisiera pedir"

Answer 10

I normally just order without announcing that I am ready to do so, although the waiter sometimes asks, "¿Listo?".

Odd behaviour. I tend to announce everything that I'm about to do just before doing it. For not so significant events I might just mumble it under my breath, for those most important, I take out double page ads. in national papers, commission songs, etc. - afowen, May 26, 2011

I'm shy: if it's not important enough to put in the Congressional Record, I keep it to myself. - lorenzo9, May 26, 2011

Answer 11

In Mexico (interior - not border areas), the noun "la pedida" and "la orden" can be used, although "la pedida" is more common. But the verb "ordenar" is not common.

In this situation, however, I would just say "Quisiera pedir" and have done with it.

¿ la pedida? Jamás he escuchado ese término y he viajado por todo México, además de vivir allí (en el norte, en el sur y en el centro) por más de cincuenta años. - - Agora, May 25, 2011

Answer 12

But isnt this common in Mexico? ive seen this written in mexican places

Mexico is "too close" to USA, so it is not surprising that they've adapted the language due to the proximity. However, I do not recommend that you use it elsewhere. - lazarus1907, May 25, 2011

"ordenar" is the most common in México. - pacofinkler, May 25, 2011

Answer 13

Well, vengo, I must admit, in Mexico anything is possible, jeje

Ordenar is certainly not the right word to use, but in Mexico...who knows

Answer 14

Even the dictionary gives as a common way in latin america in a restaurant

Answer 15

Sorry I misspelled the title