Which "ask" do you use and when? Preguntar and Pedir

Question

When do you use pedir and when do you use preguntar to say "ask"?

Welcome to SD - thanks for completing you profile. - ian-hill, Feb 20, 2015

Answer 1

Preguntar is to ask a question.. and Pedir is "asking" in the sense of requesting or ordering something ...

for example ..

Pregunté a la camarera el nombre y despues pedí un café.

I asked the waiteress her name and later asked her (ordered) for a coffee..

Nice answer, Joydeep. - annierats, Feb 20, 2015

Thanks Annie :) - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 20, 2015

Good, succinct, and clear answer , Jimmy - FELIZ77, Feb 21, 2015

Thanks Paul :) - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 21, 2015

Answer 2

My understanding is that preguntar is specifically about questions (la pregunta = question), while pedir has a wider meaning that could include "demand", "order", "beg" and so on.

Ask him if he will join us for dinner. - this will require "preguntar" and corresponds to something like "John, will you join us?"

Ask him to join us for dinner. - this will require "pedir" (or other options but not "preguntar") and corresponds to something like "John, please join us."

:) - Joydeep_Singh, Feb 20, 2015

Answer 3

Pedir

Preguntar

Lots of good stuff in the translate function under the "Menu" option above.